Under what circumstances are blood tests used?

• Any driver who is taken to hospital following a motor-vehicle related incident will have to undergo a mandatory blood test.
• The police also have power to arrest a driver who is involved in a fatal accident or an accident which the police believe may become a fatal accident and subject the driver to a mandatory blood test.
• Where a breath analysis indicates the driver is over the limit the police must advise the driver of their right to have a blood test.
• If a driver chooses to exercise this right the police will provide a blood testing kit. The kit contains a statement of the person’s right to have a blood test together with instructions to both the person and a doctor on the blood sampling procedures. Drivers must make their own arrangements to have the blood sample taken.
• Sometimes blood test results can result in a higher reading than preliminary breath test results.