CARDINIA: Most drug drivers found at Pakenham
Pakenham has scored the unenviable title of the hardest hit suburb in the state for drug drivers caught endangering the lives of innocent road users,.
Some 358 drug drivers were intercepted by police locally last financial year.
This is three times higher than the second ranked suburb in the state, Dandenong, with 114 drug driving intercepts. Pakenham was also the most common place for drug driving offenders to live.
The latest police intelligence shows Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia accounted for 18 per cent of all drivers caught under the influence of illicit substances – tripling the amount of the second highest region, Greater Geelong, which accounted for just 6 per cent of the state’s drug drivers.
Some 1460 drug divers were caught across the region, with 58 per cent of those being repeat offenders.
A quarter of those caught under the influence should not have been behind the wheel in the first place, as they were unauthorised drivers.
Methamphetamine was present in 69 per cent of positive roadside drug tests in the three municipalities in in the 2024-25 financial year, with THC being found in 43 per cent of the same tests, signifying a disturbing trend of multiple substances being detected in drivers.
Unsurprisingly, Greater Dandenong Casey and Cardinia also topped state for the number of collisions involving drivers impaired by drugs and or alcohol.
Frankston and Shepparton equally rounded out the third most common area for drug drivers to be intercepted.
Cardinia Highway Patrol officers have seen far too many incidents this year and have also prevented tragedy from occurring by getting drug-affected drivers off the road.
Incidents of note include:
n A 21-year-old female P-plater from Pakenham allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol was intercepted at Pakenham after clocking 140-kmh in a 70 signposted area. She was charged with drink and drug driving, drive whilst suspended, use unregistered motor vehicle, failing an oral fluid test, three counts of exceed speed limit, and two counts of running red lights. Her licence was cancelled and disqualified for six months.
n A 37-year-old woman who was suspended from driving was pulled over by police on the Pakenham and allegedly tested positive to cannabis while taking her children to school. She was charged with both offences and was disqualified from obtaining a driver’s licence or a bike permit for six months, and ordered not to be re-licenced unless cleared by a magistrate.
n A 33-year-old man was allegedly caught under the influence in Pakenham while also disqualified from driving. It will be further alleged he had incorrect plates on the car, which was also unregistered. He was summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
Local police are continuing to target drug drivers in operations in Pakenham.