Visible, consistent enforcement

Enforcement and swifter justice are crucial for the new drug-driving law to succeed, says Adrian Galea

The national conference on drug and drink-driving, organised by the Insurance Association of Malta (IAM), brought together judges, police officers, medical experts, policymakers and insurers to confront one of Malta’s most persistent and deadly road-safety challenges: impaired driving.

With parliament set to approve Bill 146, introducing roadside saliva testing for drugs, random roadside testing for alcohol and drugs and mandatory testing after accidents involving injuries, the conference delivered a clear and unified message: the new law is an important and long-awaited step forward but it must be visibly and consistently enforced if it is to truly save lives.

Speaking at the opening, association president Catherine Calleja reminded attendees that substance-impaired driving is no longer an occasional threat but a daily risk. Cocaine use has surged, cannabis is increasingly detected in traffic fatalities and emergency doctors are seeing more cases of aggression and incapacity linked to drugs.

Published on TOM of 20 November 2025

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