Driving Instructor Busted High on Cannabis While Teaching Teen to Drive
Police in Slough, Berkshire, arrested a driving instructor after he tested positive for cannabis while giving a 17-year-old a driving lesson. Thames Valley Police acted on a tip-off and pulled over the white driving school car.
Officers asked the instructor to step out and take a drug test. The results confirmed he was under the influence of cannabis behind the wheel. The force said on social media: “We stopped the vehicle in Slough, which at the time was being driven by a 17-year-old student, and shockingly the driving instructor tested positive for cannabis.”
Arrest and Investigation Underway
The instructor was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and released under investigation pending blood test results. Police confirmed they will notify all relevant authorities due to the instructor’s professional role.
If convicted, driving instructors caught drunk or drugged behind the wheel typically face a four-year suspension. These strict penalties underline the duty of care expected from qualified instructors.
Not the First Time: Previous Cases Show Serious Risks
- In 2017, a female instructor was banned from driving for 18 months after testing positive for drugs.
- In Surrey in 2015, police found both a learner driver and their instructor driving under the influence – the instructor was four times over the legal limit.
- Another instructor failed a roadside drug test in 2018 while teaching a student.
Driving instructors undergo rigorous training to ensure they are fit to teach. Those convicted of drunk or drugged driving risk losing their licence and professional standing.
