Health Minister Joseph Cassar said today that he personally agreed with Sedqa's call for random breathalyster tests as a means to clamping down on drink-driving.
Sedqa is insisting that breathalyser tests should not be conducted only when the police had reasonable suspicion that a driver is under the influence of drink, but should also conduct random tests.
Dr Cassar said this was not something which fell within the responsibilities of his ministry, but he personally agreed with the agency's call.
He was speaking at the launching of a drink-driving campaign which will be conducted by the Health Department over Yuletide. Various other departments will be taking part including the police, CPD, the hospital Casualty Department, Transport Malta and Sedqa.
The minister underlined the danger of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Charmaine Gauci, director of the health promotion department, said that a 2008 survey found that 7.71 per cent of people drove despite drinking too much.
The current limit is 80 mg/dL of blood - or about one unit of alcohol.
A Transport Malta representative said that the risk of fatal traffic accidents, even at this legal limit increased by 10 times.
Patrick Murgo, director of the Civil Protection Department, said that rescuers assisted victims of drink-driving practically every weekend. Most of the victims were young, and one night changed their lives, he said. The consequences, he said were not only death, since many ended up in wheelchairs.
Assistant Police Commissioner Josie Brincat said the police had a breathalyser set in every police district and two at the Mobile Squad. He backed the call for random breathalyser tests but said there was nothing to keep him from stopping drivers, even at 10 a.m. in order to ask for driving documents. That way, he could pick up the signs of alcohol consumption, thus making it his duty to order a breathalyser test.
He said that the fine for a first drink-driving offence was up to €1,200 and/or three months imprisonment and this rose with more offences.
He also warned against people using their mobile phones to call or SMS while driving.
He appealed to those who have just got their driving licence to avoid the roads during Christmas.