Progress has been made towards introducing roadside sobriety testing on the Island, according to Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell.

Speaking in the House of Assembly this morning, Mr Crockwell said that a working group of agencies have reviewed legislation and schemes in place in other countries, and identified an appropriate testing device to be used on the Island.

Mr Crockwell said: “The working group proposed that the following three legislative amendments to the Motor Car Act 1951 could be implemented in the short term which would have the greatest impact on our roads to sustain life; amend the legislation to allow ‘test before arrest’ for roadside breathalysers, amend to create provisions on preliminary breath testing and amend to provide an approved instrument order so the proposed breathalyser may be used by the police to administer preliminary testing.

“However, through further consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chamber and consideration of constitutional issues related to ‘testing before arrest’, roadside sobriety testing will be introduced as an alternative substantive testing method to the existing testing that is administered at the Hamilton Police Station.

“The selected handheld testing device is the Drager Alcotest 7510 unit and the unit has to be capable of being used as evidence in court. Therefore, the Transport Control Department is making the necessary arrangement for the manufacture to provide local demonstrations on the use of the unit and verification on its suitability for the intended purposes.

“The manufacturer’s presentation will be part of the ongoing consultation with the Bermuda Police Service, Health, Magistrates’ Courts, the Bar Council and the DPP’s Chambers on the intended use of the unit as a substantive testing device.

“The introduction of the hand-held testing unit will not require legislative amendments and once we have completed the verification of the unit and it is deemed acceptable by the Bermuda Police Service, we will lay an order approving the said instrument and if there are no identified issue we intend to lay the order in May 2015.

“In the meanwhile, I urge all Bermuda residents to drive responsibly and have consideration for the safety of themselves and other road users.”