L-PLATE DRUG DRIVING SHOCK

LEARNER drivers in Geelong are being caught behind the wheel with illicit drugs in their system.

In the past three months, six learners tested positive to methamphetamine or cannabis while travelling on the region’s roads.

The motorists, from Highton, Grovedale, Corio, Norlane, Moe and Wodonga, were caught in Geelong, Breakwater, Whittington and Norlane during the 12-week period.

Three had cannabis in their system, two with methamphetamines and one, from Norlane, tested positive to both illegal substances.

Geelong Highway Patrol boss Senior Sergeant Shane Coles labelled the results as unacceptable and said his staff were determined to make the roads safer by identifying and removing dangerous drivers from Geelong roads.

“It reflects a lot on the number of people within the community actually using drugs. These numbers were detected by Geelong Highway Patrol members alone, so we know there are many more out there and they’re driving impaired,” he said.

“One in six drivers are coming back positive at the moment.

“September will see us increase this focus with targeted operations.”

New data shows the Geelong Highway Patrol team nabbed 122 drug drivers in the past three months alone after an expansion of training, which now sees all members of the road team authorised to conduct the tongue swab tests.

On July 15, a St Leonards man was caught on the Bellarine Peninsula with both drugs and alcohol in his system.

Intercepted on Murradoc Rd, officers said he returned a preliminary breath test (PBT) of .075 and tested positive to methamphetamines.

The man also had four priors for similar driving offences.

Meanwhile, on June 22, a Grovedale man was found to be driving on a disqualified licence with alcohol and methamphetamine also in his system.

He had three priors for impaired driving.

And in April a 28-year-old Lara man was caught drug driving twice in the same week while in Corio.

Leading Senior Constable Gavin Duncan said these motorists were effectively performing two illegal acts in one.

“These people are not only breaking the law in the first place by purchasing and using drugs but then a second time by driving after doing that,” he said. “It’s of great concern to us.”