Pontevedra, November 5, 2024.- The subdelegate of the Government in Pontevedra, Abel Losada, stressed today that the empowerment of the local police forces of the province of Pontevedra to carry out preventive drug controls will result in a significant improvement in road safety, since from now on a greater number of this type of controls can be carried out.
Losada visited this morning the practical exercise, which took place on the PO-531 road in Ayo-Pontevedra, and which took place at the end of the two days of theoretical training within the framework of the course taught by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) at the headquarters of the Command of the Civil Guard of Pontevedra. The activity served to train and empower local police officers in the detection of drugs in preventive controls.
Agents of the local police of Baiona, Nigrán, Gondomar, Salceda de Caselas, Sanxenxo, Tomiño and Vilagarcía de Arousa participated. Thus, by strict order of registration, the limit of the 30 places offered was covered. Beyond these municipalities, the municipal police of other large towns and cities such as Marín, O Porriño, Pontevedra, Vigo, Tui or Redonda already carry out tests of narcotic substances.
Abel Losada took advantage of the visit to the practical exercise on the road to inform that in the year 2023 3,773 drug screening tests were carried out in the province of Pontevedra by the Traffic Subsector of the Civil Guard, of which 2,006 (53.26%) were positive. Of this total, 1,023 of the tests were carried out coinciding with weekends, public holidays and the eve of public holidays, when there is a greater consumption of this type of substances. On the other hand, 2,978 tests were carried out in the course of preventive controls, while 356 were carried out on the occasion of an infringement and 439 after a traffic accident.
The subdelegate also revealed that in 90% of the cases with positive results in drug controls, these were detected in males. The most detected substances, as usual, were cannabis, present in 1,481 controls and cocaine, in 781.
The government’s deputy stressed the need for ongoing training to update skills in the detection of drug use at the wheel, a problem that was on the rise, especially after the pandemic. He stressed that “it is vital to adapt detection techniques to the new needs and risks for road safety” and requested responsibility from drivers “warning that driving under the influence of drugs not only puts at risk the integrity of those who consume, but innocent people who share the road”. He also recalled that the Road Safety Law prohibits driving with drugs in the body and the Penal Code stipulates severe penalties for driving recklessly under his influence, with penalties that can reach up to 4 years in prison in cases of homicide.
During two days of the course, the attendees learned techniques to detect drug use and the legal aspects associated with the processing of complaints. The seminar allowed us to delve into the pharmacological and toxicological aspects of drugs, their effects and consumption patterns, as well as the techniques to identify external signs related to their use. Sampling procedures and regulatory and legislative aspects affecting driving under the influence of these substances were also reviewed.