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21st Oct 2017

Gardaí arrest learner driver for testing positive for cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines

The driver will appear in court at a later date.

Conor Heneghan

Zuhair Chowdhury

The driver was arrested in Dublin city on Saturday.

Gardaí have arrested a motorist in Dublin for driving under the influence of cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines.

A picture of the positive drugs test was posted on An Garda Síochána’s Twitter account on Saturday; the only test that was returned as negative was one for opiates.

The learner driver was arrested after passing an unmarked patrol car in Dublin. He was arrested and will appear in court at a later date.

Under the Road Traffic Act 2016, Gardaí are permitted to test motorists whom they suspect of driving under the influence of drugs at the roadside.

Figures from the Medical Bureau for Road Safety (MBRS) for 2016 found that, of the 3,020 specimens of blood and urine it received last year, 24% confirmed positive for drugs other than alcohol

Of these, 91% were specimens from male drivers, most of whom were in the 17-44 year age range.

Cannabis was the most prevalent drug detected, followed by benzodiazepines.