Unconscious crash victims face blood testing under new plan

CHANGES TO road safety legislation – including the power to take blood samples from unconscious crash survivors – have been put forward by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar.

The changes, to be introduced under a Road Traffic Bill 2011, were outlined by Mr Varadkar to members of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport yesterday.

In a change to the traditional method of introducing legislation, Mr Varadkar told the committee he was bringing the “general scheme” of the new Bill and giving members a month to express their views. This was a change from previous eras when they had been asked to “rubber stamp” drafted legislation.

Outlining his main proposals for the Bill, he said in future a blood sample may be taken from a person who attended hospital after a road collision but, for medical reasons such as being unconscious, is unable to give permission for the sample to be taken. The sample would be held but not analysed until the person was in a position to give consent. A refusal to consent would also be an offence.

The Bill would also provide for:

- Mandatory breath testing at the new lower drink-driving limits which were approved last year;

- The introduction of a plastic card driver licence;

- The transfer of responsibility for driver licensing from local authorities to the Road Safety Authority;

- The transfer of responsibility for commercial vehicle testing from local authorities to the authority;

- The concept of a “restricted” or “novice” driving licence, which is a licence held by a driver in the two-year period that follows the passing of his or her driving test;

- Provision for a written statement from a member of the Garda or a designated official to be acceptable as evidence in court for the purposes of speeding offences;

- Enabling provisions for the use, detention and destruction of non-roadworthy vehicles;

- Enabling provisions to allow for the regulation of electric parking bays.

Committee members agreed to consider the proposals and report to Mr Varadkar within a month.

The committee also heard criticism of the board and management of Dundalk port which is to be taken over by the Dublin Port Company by ministerial order.

Mr Varadkar told the committee he had sought the Attorney General’s advice on whether he could refer the running of Dundalk port to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement because the port company had not established an approved pension scheme and had not registered such a scheme with the Pensions Board.