MHRA backs calls for random roadside testing for drugs and alcohol

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) has come out in favour of revising laws to allow police to conduct random roadside drug and alcohol checks. 

Calls for a change in legislation have been amplified in recent weeks following a spate of fatal or serious crashes involving alcohol or drug-impaired drivers. 

Currently, police can only breathalyse drivers if they have a "reasonable suspicion" that drivers are under the influence. Police are only equipped with alcohol breathalysers. 

In a statement published on Tuesday, MHRA said it backed a call by emergency doctor Jonathan Joslin, who called for random testing of motorists in a Times of Malta opinion piece published on Monday. 

Joslin warned MPs that if they did not revise the law, they would have to bear moral responsibility for any ensuing road deaths in which drugs or alcohol are involved. 

'Safety is not optional'

The MHRA called for the government and MPs to heed Joslin's call, saying the "time for action is now".

"MHRA stresses that for a country like Malta, where tourism is a cornerstone of the economy, safety is not opitional, it is essential," the statement read.

The Insurance Association Malta has also backed the doctor's call for random drug and alcohol testing of motorists. 

"A safe environment on our roads is just as important as the quality of our hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Tourists choose destinations where they can enjoy themselves with peace of mind, and residents deserve the same assurance every day."

MHRA said random roadside testing would send a clear message that tourists can visit confidently. 

"Such measures do not restrict enjoyment, they raise the standard of living and hospitality for everyone."

The past few weeks have seen a string of road accidents and deaths linked to drink-driving. 

On Monday, a woman involved in a collision that left a motorcyclist critically injured on Sunday was six times over the legal alcohol limit at the time. 

In another recent case, a 42-year-old food courier from Nepal was killed when his motorcycle was hit by a Maserati car in Santa Venera. A 17-year-old driver was later charged after fleeing the scene, and pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence. 

Mother-of-four Mildred Azzopardi was killed when she was caught between two cars after a car driven by a soldier crashed into a stationary vehicle in Valletta.

The driver, Benjamin Chetcuti, is charged with involuntary homicide, driving under the influence and grievously injuring another man through negligence.