Police in Northern Ireland are set to be able to detect drug use at the roadside with the pilot of a new testing kit.
Specially trained officers from the Road Policing Unit and District Support Teams will be able to use DrugWipes to check for cannabis and cocaine in a 12-month pilot programme across the region.
The equipment is in addition to the existing testing available for alcohol levels.
The DrugWipes kit uses a mouth swab, with a red line appearing if the person has taken the drugs.
Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said the kit will help ensure those using illegal drugs while driving face the full force of the law.
“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will drastically increase the risk of causing a collision,” she said.
“Since January, sadly 46 people have lost their lives on our roads. That number is far too high and we must work together to keep each other safe.
“These DrugWipes will allow us to target those using illegal drugs while driving and ensure they face the full rigours of the law for their lack of care for the safety of fellow citizens.
“We are committed to continually improving road safety and robustly challenging those who recklessly risk the safety of road users and the wider public.”
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd described the launch of the roadside drugs-test tool as timely, with high numbers of road deaths.
Officers will now be using drug-detection kits to target those using illegal drugs while driving.
The roadside kit uses a mouth swab, with and a red line appearing if the person has taken cannabis and/or cocaine.
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Last year saw 71 people lose their lives on Northern Ireland’s roads, the highest number of deaths for eight years, while 46 people have died following road crashes so far in 2024.
Mr O’Dowd recently launched the Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030 and the Road Safety Strategy Action Plan 2024/25, which includes a review of drug-driving legislation
“In the North, the death rate on our roads is, on average, one per week. It’s a shocking statistic and the devastation every road death leaves in its wake knows no boundaries,” he said.
“In 2023, 11 people were killed in road traffic collisions where alcohol or drugs were attributed.
“As road users we must do everything we can – both individually and collectively – to reduce road deaths.
“The addition of roadside drug detection to the PSNI tool kit to the fight against illegal road behaviours will hopefully make people think before driving under the influence of drugs.”