Dorset Traffic Unit report crashes and drug driving offences

Members of the Dorset Police Traffic Unit attended further incidents of drug and drink driving in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region on the evening of Tuesday, February 22.

Firstly, while assisting patrol colleagues, officers came across a driver they had previously seen in the Christchurch area. The driver was the previous owner of a blue Renault seized by police for no tax on Sunday, February 20.

On Tuesday night, police believed the same driver may have been using cannabis while driving. They were proved correct soon after a positive drug wipe and took the driver into custody where a blood test will be taken.

Positive cannabis drug wipe test. Picture: Dorset Traffic Cops

At the same time, another member of the traffic team attended a single vehicle collision with a tree in Bournemouth.

A police spokesperson said: “The driver, having clearly consumed a lot of alcohol, lost their car and their liberty after giving a positive breath test.”

Officers were delayed taking the driver to custody as they stopped at Bournemouth Hospital first. The driver was still nearly twice the legal drink drive limit around four hours after the crash.

The spokesperson added: “We don’t want to be killjoys but when it comes to drink and drugs, it really must be none for the road. Mixing these hugely increases the risk of a collision and having fatal consequences.”