Proponents of better road safety have applauded a government proposal to introduce random drug testing for drivers, made in a national drug policy that is up for consultation. The issue of drug driving has come into sharp focus after a car driven by a cocaine-fuelled man rammed into a pedestrian on January 18 in Gżira, killing her on the spot. The driver, Jeremie Camilleri, has since been charged with the murder of Pelin Kaya. The proposed national policy aims to reduce drug supply and demand and to implement legal and judicial reforms. But one proposal specifically targets drug driving. “Introduce a new law on random drug testing for all drivers of all vehicles with a ‘zero tolerance’ for all illicit drugs,” the policy proposal reads. As the law stands now, the police require “reasonable suspicion” before testing a motorist for alcohol or drugs. Will it also apply to alcohol? The draft policy does not make it clear whether the proposal will only apply to drug testing, or alcohol testing too. A Transport Minister spokesperson said it was too early to specify, while a spokesperson at the Social Policy Ministry noted that the plan is open to public consultation until April...
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