Seanad debates
Thursday, 20 November 2003
Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage.
There is more we can do in this regard. We need to have a package including road safety and fraudulent claims. On the Order of Business this morning, I raised the need for the introduction of a drug analyser, similar to that which is being introduced in the UK. We have made great progress in regard to drink driving and reducing the number of fatalities in that area, but we have not addressed the serious issue of drugs. I was appalled to read that 25% of fatal car accidents in the UK involved people under the influence of illegal drugs. When that figure is added to the number of people, who are unaware of the dramatic side effects, using legal drugs there is a serious problem. We all take drugs from time to time and we must be careful driving or operating machines because they can make one drowsy. Intake of such drugs can result in car accidents. Therefore, we must examine this issue too.
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