Traffic police tasked with conducting breathalyser tests on those suspected of driving under the influence of drink need more training to know when they can test drivers, a judge said on Friday.

Speaking at a conference on drink-driving on Friday, organised by the Malta Insurance Association, Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera said there seemed to be a misconception on the interpretation of the term “reasonable suspicion”.

According to the law, police officers can only ask a driver to take a test if they have what is called 'reasonable suspicion' that the motorist was driving after having consumed more alcohol than is allowed.

“The term has to be given a wider interpretation and the officers on the road need more training. The amount of traffic accidents taking place every day go into the thousands. Doesn’t it warrant more tests? Yes, I think it does,” the judge said during her presentation.

On the high number of drivers who were being acquitted, the judge insisted that a good number of the tests that were carried out were often, “unfortunately”, not “thorough” enough.

She also pointed out that some breathalyser tests were also taken too late.