Terang Police have intercepted a disqualified driver around 8:30pm last Tuesday night.

The 38-year-old male from Terang was tested for illicit drugs by means of a roadside oral fluid test. He also had his unregistered vehicle impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1,295

The driver will be summonsed to court at a later date for driving whilst disqualified and drug impaired driving

Police in the Corangamite District now have the capability to conduct roadside oral fluid tests for illicit drugs as a part of an expansion of a trial into roadside drug testing which began last year.

The trial allows officers from one-person and regional stations to join the effort to nab drug drivers.

Prior to the trial, roadside drug testing was only led by specialist units, including state and local highway patrol units, the Heavy Vehicle Unit, and the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section (RPDAS).

The expansion will provide police in regional areas the opportunity to keep people safe by completing more drug tests and influence motorist attitudes to deter people from making poor decisions behind the wheel.

The trial is expected to run until 31 March 2021, however may be expanded further and to other areas depending on the results.

Road Policing Command Western Region Inspector Michael Phyland issued a warning to impaired drivers on our roads.

"Drivers can expect to be pulled over for a roadside drug test at any place and any time, so be warned – if you take drugs and drive, you will be caught,"

"If we can deter people from making risky choices to start with, we can save lives on the road."