Research

Research

The Bureau may arrange for research into physical and mental fitness of drivers of vehicles; medical aspects of road safety; the effects of intoxicants on drivers and the methods of measuring them; methods of determining the extent to which a intoxicants are present in a person’s body.

In 2000-2001, the Bureau in collaboration with the Department of Public Health Medicine at University College Dublin undertook a nationwide survey of driving under the influence of drugs in Ireland and published the results in 2004. A peer-reviewed paper was published in 2006: Drinking, drugs and driving in Ireland: more evidence for action.  P Fitzpatrick, L Daly, C P Leavy and D A Cusack Inj. Prev. 2006; 12; 404-408.

The Bureau also researches and carries out literature reviews on the relevant analytical methods and procedures in alcohol and drug blood and urine testing and breath alcohol measuring devices and instruments.

Professional Educational Courses

The Bureau provides training for  Garda instructors in:

* Impairment testing
* Draeger 5000 drugtest oral fluid drug testing device.
* Draeger 6510 breath testing device.

The Bureau provides training for  Garda operators and Supervisors for use of:

* EvidenzerIRL evidential breath testing instruments.

Senior Bureau staff provide lectures in several undergraduate and post graduate courses run in third level colleges and universities.

The MBRS provides seminars relating to the legislative functions of the Bureau to professional groups.