Learner driver arrested throughout take a look at for drug-driving | EUROtoday

A learner driver was stopped in the midst of their driving take a look at and arrested for drug-driving, police say.

Merseyside Police mentioned patrol officers had initially stopped the car after they noticed a faulty brake mild and poor driving.

As the officers spoke to the motive force, they may odor hashish and they also carried out a medication wipe take a look at which he failed. The driving take a look at was instantly terminated, the drive added.

The 26-year-old driver was additionally discovered to be in possession of hashish and was arrested. He has since been launched from police custody below investigation.

The man, initially from Wigan, had been taking his driving take a look at in St Helens and was noticed by patrol officers on King Street at round 5pm on Sunday.

Merseyside’s roads policing inspector Simon Wilson mentioned: “Officers rightly pulled over the car after noticing that a brake light wasn’t working, which is dangerous not only for the occupants of the vehicle but also other road users. After speaking to the driver, it was clear that there was much more for officers to be concerned with and he was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

“Although some people may find the humour in the fact someone on a driving test was arrested, drug driving is no laughing matter. It is incredibly dangerous and selfish to get behind the wheel of a vehicle under the influence of drugs and it’s an offence we take seriously at Merseyside Police.”

The drive’s Roads Policing Unit mentioned on social media platform X: “The vehicle was returned to the young man’s mother at the test centre, who was shocked to see a police officer step out instead of her son, leading to a very awkward conversation.”

One X person requested how the driving examiner allowed the take a look at to happen regardless of the faulty brake mild, to which the policing unit mentioned: “It was an intermittent fault, present one moment and gone the next, so it’s entirely possible the checks were carried out during a period when the issue wasn’t showing.”

Another person replied to the police’s assertion on social media and mentioned: “At least they will save on lessons for the next 18 months”. The Merseyside Roads Policing Unit responded “Ahhh they can use the money they save on lessons to pay off court costs and fines!! #Silverlinings”.

Every yr the police run ‘Operation Limit’ which is a nation-wide initiative which goals to deal with driving throughout the festive seasons. Merseyside police mentioned they’re decided to “improve road safety” and “crackdown on selfish drivers” all yr spherical.

The police drive urges anybody who suspects somebody to be driving below the affect to name 999 instantly or report them to 101 or Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.