Drug driving arrests soared in 2023 on the back of new testing device

The number of drug driving arrests in Mayo doubled last year as 34 people were taken into Garda custody following positive cocaine and cannabis roadside tests.

Gda Inspector David Tiernan, Head of Road Policing in Mayo, said there were a large number of checkpoints rolled out during the February Bank Holiday weekend, with a strong emphasis on speed, mobile phones, seatbelts and drink and drug driving.

Inspector Tiernan revealed that there had been a large increase in detection rates for drug driving in 2023, with the number doubling to 34 (from 17 in 2022).

"We have seen a big increase in drug driving over the past year - in detections anyway but maybe it was always there," Insp Tiernan said.

The Securetec Drugwipe 6s roadside drug testing device was introduced 13 months ago and rolled out to Gardaí across the country. Insp Tiernan said the equipment is more portable, faster at delivering results and can test for cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines and opiates, amphetamine and methamphetamine.

"The equipment has been hugely helpful in the detections because it is simple to use and it is small and if you have cocaine or cannabis in your system you can be arrested,” he added. "It is similar to the antigen test that you swab in the mouth."