Cabinet Approves Proposal to Submit Motor Vehicles (Drugs) Directive to Parliament

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to submit the Motor Vehicles (Drugs) Directive No. 1 of 2025 to Parliament for approval. This directive aims to address concerns regarding drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs.

Under the Motor Vehicles Act, a police officer has the legal authority to refer individuals suspected of driving under the influence of drugs to a government medical officer for testing. However, until now, there have been no clear provisions outlining the methods of conducting such investigations or determining the quantity of drugs required to prove that a person has consumed them.

To resolve this, the Motor Vehicles (Drugs) Directive No. 1 of 2025 has been issued under the authority of the Motor Vehicle Act (Section 203 Authority). This directive, published in the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2452/40 on September 4, 2025, provides the legal framework for examining drivers suspected of drug use.

The proposal, presented by the Acting Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, has been approved by the Cabinet and will now be submitted to Parliament for further approval.