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Irish police to use Blyth-made device in drug driving crackdown

Blyth-based Dräger, a manufacturer in safety technology, has won a contract to supply its drug testing device to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety in Ireland.

The Irish police force, An Garda Síochána, will use the Dräger DrugTest 5000 at the roadside, where it will test for up to four of the most commonly abused substances, to assist in a major crackdown on drug driving in the coming months.

The equipment has been designed for real time usage, with saliva samples able to be analysed immediately for precise results on the spot. If a driver fails the roadside test, gardaí will be able to arrest them on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and they will need to provide a blood or urine sample at the station.

Mark Burrup, Dräger’s drug and alcohol specialist for Europe North region, said: “We are delighted the Dräger DrugTest 5000 has been chosen to support the Garda in its crackdown on drug driving.

“This has been a joint venture between Dräger and our Sales Channel Partner in Ireland, Respro. Dräger has extensive experience working with police forces around the world and with many decades of expertise in the field of drug and alcohol screening, we understand the importance of supporting officers in this crucial role.

“The DrugTest 5000 uses real time technology and can be used quickly and easily by gardaí at the roadside. The equipment will play a vital role in reducing the number of drug drivers on the road and the impact they have in the safety of others.”

Dräger worked closely with its Irish sales channel partner, Respro, throughout the whole tender process.

Damien O’Reilly, Managing Director at Respro Ltd., said: “Dräger and Respro have enjoyed a long-standing partnership in Ireland and we’re very pleased to have supported them throughout the tender process.

“A big factor in Dräger’s success are the technical elements of the equipment, laboratory developed, robust and reliable. Dräger also has existing experience working with the Garda, which also uses its Alcotest 6510 equipment.”

The Dräger DrugTest 5000 is already widely used by police forces around the world.