70 vehicles stopped by police last weekend as roadside drug testing begins
One driver tested positive, while another three involved in collisions tested positive on separate days
Some 70 vehicles were stopped by police last Sunday in random drug-driving inspections along the coast road in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.
In a statement, police said one driver had tested positive for drugs during the spot checks, while another three drivers involved in collisions had tested positive for drugs on separate days.
Last Sunday’s inspections saw 32 contraventions issued for various traffic regulation breaches, while 11 vehicles were caught exceeding the speed limit.
Checks of motorists are expected to continue over the following weeks, police said.
The action follows the introduction of a law allowing for random roadside drink and drug testing earlier this month, which was passed unanimously by parliamentarians.
The legal changes also provide for imprisonment for those found guilty of killing a person, even involuntarily, while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, removing the possibility of a suspended sentence.
Roadside drug tests can check for cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, amphetamines, methamphetamines and opioids – a category of drugs that includes heroin and fentanyl.
The law followed a surge in road traffic accidents and fatalities last year, which led to calls for the introduction of random roadside testing, including from Mater Dei emergency department consultant Jonathan Joslin.