Background & Purpose

Drug-related traffic deaths and drug-impaired driving have increased over the past decade, making it necessary to find new ways to catch offenders similarly to alcohol screening.

Proposals & Debate

The government proposed launching a trial period allowing routine eye examinations of motorists to detect drug use, restricted strictly to traffic controls and not general societal checks.

The Decision

The Swedish parliament approved the government's proposal to launch a trial period for routine eye checks in traffic starting in March 2025.

Does this affect you?

  • Motor vehicle drivers: Can be subjected to routine eye examinations by police during traffic stops without prior suspicion of wrongdoing.
  • Police officers: Gain a new legal tool to proactively test and detect drug-impaired drivers on the roads.

In Practice

  • Police can perform routine eye examinations on drivers of motor vehicles during traffic stops.
  • Checks can be conducted even if the driver shows no outward signs of impairment or suspicion of a crime.
  • The new control method applies exclusively to traffic environments.
  • The trial period runs for five years before being evaluated.