People as young as 16 are testing positive for drug-driving, police have said.
Figures from Devon and Cornwall Police showed that, out of 1,245 drivers who were tested between 1 January and 30 June 2025, nearly half (45%) had illegal substances in their system.
The youngest male was a 16-year-old in Newquay who tested positive for cannabis, and the youngest female was a 18-year-old in Newton Abbot who tested positive cocaine.
Patrol Insp Wes Watkins, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Drug-driving is present along with drink-driving. We’ve focused a lot on alcohol over the years, we haven’t necessarily put the message out there quite so much around the drug-driving aspect.”
He said drug-driving “brings its risks” to other drivers on the road, putting themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk.
