[WATCH] President calls for local research into drug driving

President calls for local research into drug driving

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca called for research into the phenomenon of drug driving in Malta.

Addressing a conference, she said it was “strange” that no local studies have yet been conducted on how drug use affects activities such as driving.

“It is important to expand the discussion, with the aim of introducing initiatives favouring better health and safety for everyone in society,” she said.

The conference was held to launch a study into drug driving legislation by the National Centre for Freedom of Addictions – within the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society.

The centre’s head Anna Vella said that drug and drunk driving is one of the top three killers on Europe’s roads – alongside speeding and seatbelt disuse.

She said that scientific evidence is essential to move on to targeted policies, law enforcement and the sanctioning of these laws.

“We need to identify which substances are most common and how they affect driving,” she said, while calling for the establishment of a repository to keep data about drug driving.

Independent researcher Claire Bellia said that Malta also had to determine whether it should have a limit based system, similar to the one enacted in alcohol units.

“Throughout Europe, different drugs have different limits, according to their effects, and the research would be essential to understand which drugs are most common, and which concoctions might be present as well,” she said.

Forensic pharmacist Mario Mifsud said that Malta needs to explore the best sanctioning options to deter drug driving, including revoking their driving license, fines, rehabilitation, imprisonment and probation.

“However, there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of sanctions to deter drug driving, “ he said.

He also argued that Malta should consider procedures targeted at problem drug users and drivers using substitution treatment like methadone.  

“In some countries, drivers who are also drug addicts who seek help against their addiction, have a duty to tell their therapist, but attention ought to be paid to making sure that the initiative does not end up deterring addicts from seeking help in the first place,” he explained.