A VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN against drunk driving will shortly be mounted as the National Committee for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency steps up its call for
breathalyser testing.

President Victor Roach said during a Press conference at Christ Church Parish Church Centre yesterday that the aim of the ten-week drive would be to boost the petition of 30 000 signatures by a couple thousand.

He said he was pleased that the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, recently presented in the House of Assembly but deferred to a select committee of the Lower Chamber, would be revised to include breathalyser testing.

He noted that although the Road Traffic Act was adopted in 1984, police had made a case for breathalyser testing since 1978.

"We are told, and the evidence is compelling, that the Road Traffic Act then had in draft the adoption of breathalyser testing.

"So we had to wait 22 years to get the act amended, and so you can understand our delight and our joy in having the amendments forced to go to a select committee."

He said the matter would be discussed during a meeting today and would include stakeholders in the medical field, essential services as well as retired police officers.

Roach said he hoped the campaign would be successful ahead of the select committee's report to Parliament by October 31. (JW)