Two private hire vehicle drivers (black minivans with blue number plates) have been caught transporting passengers while under the influence of cocaine during transport inspections carried out by Sant Josep Local Police over the weekend.
The discovery raises serious questions about passenger safety on Ibiza’s roads, particularly as both drivers were actively working and carrying customers at the time they tested positive.
Police described driving under the influence of narcotics as a direct threat to the safety of all road users and stressed that professional drivers have an even greater responsibility when transporting members of the public.
The incidents comes during what looks to be another incredibly busy summer on Ibiza’s roads when thousands of residents, workers and tourists rely on taxis and licensed minivans to move around the island safely.
While much attention is often focused on drink-driving campaigns, these cases serve as a reminder that drug-driving remains a significant and often hidden danger. Passengers stepping into a vehicle expect the person behind the wheel to be fit to drive, not under the influence of illegal substances.
The fact that these were professional drivers carrying paying customers makes the offences particularly alarming. It also raises the question of how many more impaired drivers may be slipping through the net.
The message from the authorities could not be clearer: drugs and driving are completely incompatible.
Sant Josep Local Police have confirmed that preventative transport checks will continue throughout the summer as part of efforts to improve road safety.
MAN IN SAN AN by Martin Makepeace 