New measures are to be introduced to allow for drug testing at all road accidents.

Gardai currently only have the power and resources to test for alcohol, but that is set to change as the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is to bring in a new device that will allow for drug testing.

Between 2007 and 2013, seven in every 10 specimens examined for drugs by the Bureau tested positive for drugs.

The new measures come as part of the General Scheme of a Road Traffic Bill 2015. The General Scheme will be submitted to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for formal drafting before, it is expected, publication in the summer.

The Minister for Transport Pachal Donohoe said the Bill was necessary in light of an increase in road deaths in Ireland last year.

“After many years of reductions, deaths on our roads increased in 2013, with a further increase again in 2014,” Mr Donohoe said.

“This is a worrying development and underlines the need to keep up pressure on a wide variety of fronts to reduce these unnecessary tragedies on our roads.”

Mr Donohoe said the new measures “will provide for testing for drugs at the roadside, paralleling existing measures for testing for alcohol.

“In future, Gardaí at roadside checkpoints will be able to conduct tests for alcohol and/or drugs, rather than alcohol only.”

New technology for undertaking roadside tests for drugs in drivers will be tested in the new few months.