A learner driver was stopped in the middle of their driving test and arrested for drug-driving, police say.
Merseyside Police said patrol officers had initially stopped the vehicle after they spotted a defective brake light and poor driving.
As the officers spoke to the driver, they could smell cannabis and so they conducted a drugs wipe test which he failed. The driving test was immediately terminated, the force added.
The 26-year-old driver was also found to be in possession of cannabis and was arrested. He has since been released from police custody under investigation.
The man, originally from Wigan, had been taking his driving test in St Helens and was spotted by patrol officers on King Street at around 5pm on Sunday.
Merseyside’s roads policing inspector Simon Wilson said: “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 force’s Roads Policing Unit said 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 user asked how the driving examiner allowed the test to take place despite the defective brake light, to which the policing unit said: “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.”
#Synd2RPU stopped a vehicle displaying L plates due to a defective brake light and poor driving. The driver was found to be undertaking his driving test but subsequently failed a roadside drug wipe. He was arrested and the test was terminated. #FAILED #MAJORFAULT #DVSA 🤯 🧠 😑 pic.twitter.com/JT2MPP4ZZ6
— Roads Policing Unit (@MerPolTraffic) March 1, 2026
Another user replied to the police’s statement on social media and said: “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 year the police run ‘Operation Limit’ which is a nation-wide initiative which aims to tackle driving across the festive seasons. Merseyside police said they are determined to “improve road safety” and “crackdown on selfish drivers” all year round.
The police force urges anyone who suspects someone to be driving under the influence to call 999 immediately or report them to 101 or Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
