Gardaí will soon be given the powers to test an unconscious driver for the presence of alcohol and drugs. It is mandatory for all drivers involved in a serious collision to be tested for alcohol and drugs, but thus far Gardaí have had to wait until a driver regains consciousness - at which point alcohol or drugs may have left the system.
From next month Gardaí can instruct a doctor attending a crash scene to draw a blood sample from an unconscious driver. The sample will not be analysed until the person has regained consciousness and given consent for it to be analysed. Refusal to give consent will be an offence in the same way refusing a mandatory roadside breath test is.
The measure was introduced as part of February's Road Traffic Act 2014, but put on hold while consultation with Gardaí and medical professionals were ongoing.
Anything else?
Also joining the introduction of testing of unconscious drivers next month are roadside impairment tests. Similar to American sobriety tests these will see drivers undertake a series of tasks such as balancing on one leg, touching their nose or walking a straight line to gauge their co-ordination. The impairment tests are likely to be used in the case of suspected drug use with breath tests staying in place for those suspected of consuming alcohol.