Malta to introduce roadside drug testing and harsher penalties for drink driving

The Government has unveiled new measures to tackle drink and drug driving, including roadside drug testing and stricter penalties for offenders.

Malta is moving towards a tougher stance on road safety, with Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri announcing a series of reforms aimed at curbing drink and drug driving.

In a Facebook statement, Dr Camilleri revealed that the Malta Police Force has already carried out 2,000 road checks so far this year, matching the total number conducted in 2023 within just eight months. This marks a sharp increase compared to three years ago, when checks were less than a third of current levels.

“These enforcement measures build on the increase in penalties in recent years, but it is clear that the deterrent must be stronger and that we must toughen the laws against those who abuse. It is not acceptable for someone to endanger another person’s life out of whim or recklessness,” the Minister said.

Key measures being introduced

The reforms are set to be debated in Parliament in the coming days and include:

1. Roadside drug testing – Police officers will be equipped to carry out immediate drug tests, similar to current alcohol breathalyser checks. Testing kits, already trialled in recent months, are based on models used in other EU Member States.
2. Random roadside testing – Checks for both alcohol and drugs will be carried out even without reasonable suspicion.
3. Mandatory prison sentences – Anyone found guilty of causing a fatality under the influence of alcohol or drugs will face an effective prison sentence, with suspended sentences no longer an option.
4. Stricter fines – Higher penalties will be imposed on drivers caught under the influence.
5. Provisional suspension of licences – Prosecutors will be empowered to request the suspension of a driver’s licence while court proceedings are ongoing, subject to the court’s decision.

“This reform builds on the steps we have already taken to protect honest and responsible citizens,” Dr Camilleri added.

The reforms come at a time when Malta is under growing pressure to address its drink driving culture, as the media has recently been flooded with news of drink driving incidents that have even cost the lives of loved ones.

The Insurance Association Malta recently noted that alcohol consumption locally rose by 23 per cent between 2010 and 2019, even as European averages declined by a similar margin.

Nearly half of Maltese adults aged 20 to 49 admit to drinking more than six glasses of alcohol a week.