Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has launched a 12-week public consultation aimed at modernising Northern Ireland’s drug-driving laws to improve road safety and reduce deaths and serious injuries.

The call for views outlines plans to establish a new legal framework that would enable offences based on specified drug limits to be introduced in future, bringing Northern Ireland closer to the approach used in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. At present, prosecutions rely on proving a driver’s impairment. Under the proposed framework, drivers over set limits for certain drugs could be prosecuted without the need to demonstrate impairment.

Launching the consultation, the Minister said: "Drug driving puts lives at risk and can have devastating consequences for victims, families and communities.

"Every death and serious injury on our roads is one too many. We know that drugs can seriously impair a person's ability to drive safely and evidence suggests that drug driving is an increasing concern.

"Our current approach to tackling drug driving has changed little over many decades. As patterns of drug use, vehicle technology and enforcement methods have evolved, it is important that our laws keep pace.

"These proposals are about creating a modern and effective framework for tackling drug driving and improving safety for everyone who uses our roads."

The Department proposes:

- A two-tier system that retains existing impairment offences while enabling new limit-based offences;

- New offences covering driving, attempting to drive, or being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal limit for a specified drug; - Powers to set which drugs and limits apply through future regulations, with scope to update them as patterns of drug use change;

- A statutory medical defence for people legitimately prescribed relevant medicines for medical or dental purposes;

- Penalties in line with existing drink and drug-driving offences; and

- Exploration of rehabilitation courses for drug-driving offenders.

Evidence cited in the consultation indicates growing concern around drug driving. Since PSNI introduced roadside drug testing in 2024, just over half of those screened have tested positive for cannabis and/or cocaine. The consultation also highlights a recent rise in the number of people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving drug-impaired drivers.

The Minister continued: "The North remains one of the few jurisdictions on these islands that continues to rely solely on an impairment-based approach to drug driving.

"I want to ensure we have robust and effective laws that help protect road users, support enforcement activity and reflect modern realities.

"The views we receive through this consultation will play an important role in shaping future legislation. I would encourage anyone with an interest in road safety to read the proposals and have their say."

The consultation is open for 12 weeks and closes on 27 January 2027. Feedback will inform the next stage of policy development and any future legislation. Further information, including how to respond, is available at: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-proposals-modernise-northern-irelands-drug-driving-laws