Debate contribution: Justice Bill: Consideration Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Maurice Bradley on 9 June 2026.

MLA: Mr Maurice Bradley
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 9 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Justice Bill: Consideration Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5602179

Text

I rise as a member of the Justice Committee to support amendment Nos 74, 75 and 90. I would like to make one thing clear: anyone who drives while impaired by drugs poses a serious danger to themselves and others. Road safety must always be a priority, and the police should have the necessary tools to remove dangerous drivers from our roads. I support the introduction of drug-testing powers comparable to those that currently exist for drink-driving, whether on suspicion of impaired or erratic driving or following a road traffic collision. My support for the amendments is rooted not only in principle but in personal experience. Twenty-five years ago, at 2.00 am on 31 March 2001, I received the devastating news that my cousin Jill Bradley had been killed by a drunk driver. Jill was 22 years old. She was an only child and had recently graduated. She was looking forward to beginning her career as a primary-school teacher. She was a beautiful young woman with natural blonde ringlets that many Irish dancers spend considerable amounts of money trying to replicate, but hers were completely natural. Twenty-five years later, it is still raw. When I visit her parents, her photograph still hangs on the wall. There remains an empty place at the family table that has never been filled. That tragedy was caused by drink-driving. The consequences of drug-impaired driving are no different. The grief experienced by families who lose loved ones is exactly the same. We cannot afford to lose more young lives because we failed to act.
We cannot afford to lose anyone because we did not equip the law enforcement agencies with the appropriate powers to tackle impairment on our roads.
Increasingly, concerns are being raised that some approaches to roadside drug testing risk treating law-abiding motorists as though they are guilty until proven innocent. For many people, being stopped, tested, questioned and potentially detained can feel intimidating and humiliating. There are legitimate concerns about false positives and the detection of substances that remain in a person's system long after the impairment effects have worn off. The objective must be to improve road safety, not to create an atmosphere in which responsible motorists feel criminalised. It is essential to have clear operational guidelines, rigorous standards for testing equipment, comprehensive officer training and robust safeguards for those who believe that they have been wrongly accused. The public's trust depends not only on effective enforcement but on fairness and accountability. The vast majority of motorists are responsible individuals. They simply travel to work, take their children to school, visit their family and friends and go about their business. They deserve protection from dangerous drivers, but they also deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. I also wish to address an issue that is becoming a growing problem on our roads and pavements: the increasing use of e-scooters and the dangers that they present to the public. Only last week, while driving through Coleraine, I observed four young men on e-scooters. They were using police no-waiting signs as makeshift seats, and not one of them was wearing a helmet. A few weeks before that, at the corner of Park Street and Church Street, I nearly walked into an e-scooter that was carrying three young girls. Thankfully, they were not travelling at an excessive speed and they managed to maintain control of the scooter. Those incidents highlight the significant gap between awareness and regulation. A person who rides a bicycle is expected to wear a helmet. Cyclists cannot legally ride through pedestrian zones or on footpaths in any circumstances, yet there remains considerable confusion about the use of e-scooters, particularly those that are privately owned. Currently, privately owned scooters cannot legally be used on public roads, pavements or cycle lanes in Northern Ireland. Despite that, many individuals continue to use them in public spaces and are often unaware that they may be breaking the law. That lack of understanding creates difficulties for enforcement and uncertainty for the public. The risk associated with e-scooter use cannot be ignored. They are capable of travelling at speeds exceeding 45 mph or more, and, when operated on busy pavements, they pose serious dangers to pedestrians, especially older people, young children and those with visual impairments. Many users fail to wear protective equipment, which increases the risk of a serious injury. Across the United Kingdom, emergency departments have reported increasing numbers of injuries relating to e-scooters, from fractures to life-threatening head traumas. The infrastructure presents another challenge. Northern Ireland's roads were not designed for e-scooters. Potholes, uneven surfaces and narrow pavements increase the likelihood of accidents. Without dedicated infrastructure or clear regulations, e-scooter riders are forced to share spaces with pedestrians and motorists, which creates hazards for everyone. There are also concerns about accountability and insurance. Unlike cars and motorcycles, many e-scooters are operated without insurance, which leaves the victims potentially facing difficulties when trying to obtain compensation after an accident has occurred. The same concerns apply to scramblers and other off-road vehicles when they are used irresponsibly in public spaces. When misused, they present a significant danger to the wider community. That is not to say that e-scooters have no place in Northern Ireland. They may well form part of a more sustainable transport system in the future. However, before wider adoption can be considered, there must be comprehensive legislation, clear safety standards, appropriate infrastructure and effective public education. The convenience of emerging technologies should never come at the expense of public safety. Ultimately, we must reject the false choice between road safety and civil liberties. We can support robust action against drug-impaired driving while insisting that enforcement measures remain fair, proportionate and just. We can embrace innovation in transport while ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect all road users and scooter users. Protecting the public should never mean abandoning the principles of fairness on which our society is built. Equally, safeguarding individual rights should never prevent us from taking the necessary action to prevent tragedy on our roads. For those reasons, I support amendments Nos 74, 75 and 90.

1,019 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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