All drivers including those who drive company vehicles will be subject to random drug testing in 2016. According to the Department of Transport, Southern Ireland, the new Road Traffic Bill is expected to be published before the end of this year. 

Legislation is required to provide Gardaí with the necessary powers to test drivers for drugs and the Minister has indicated that expected legislation will come into effect during the first half of 2016. A new testing kit to be operated by random roadside tests will test for drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, benzodiazepines and methadone. This has major implications for employers and employees who undertake driving as part of their duties. 

Addressing the NISO annual conference in November, Moya Murdoch, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, said “one in every 6 drivers killed in fatal collisions were driving for work at the time”. According to Ms Murdoch, “in 2014, 12 percent of drivers injured were driving for work and 8 percent were commuting to and from work. 9 percent of those fatally injured were driving for work and 8 percent were commuting to and from work.  She said “employers need to remember that using the road is probably the most dangerous activity employees do on a daily basis”. 

According to Maurice Quinlan, Director of the EAP Institute, intoxicant policies should be updated and a risk assessment should be carried out on driving for work. Control measures should be specified and procedures put in place to manage the situation where an employee driving in the course of their work, fails a roadside mandatory alcohol or drug test.