HGV driver taken off road after proactive stop by traffic officers
A heavy goods vehicle driver has been banned from driving for three years officers stopped him for using his mobile phone at the wheel and discovered he was also drug driving and not wearing a seatbelt.
At around 12.45pm on Saturday 29 March 2025, officers spotted a man driving an Iveco heavy goods vehicle along the A31 Ringwood Road in St Leonards while holding his mobile phone up to his ear. They followed the vehicle and also observed that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt.
He was subsequently stopped by officers and a roadside drug test was carried out.
The driver tested positive for having cocaine in his system and was arrested and taken to custody.
Analysis of his blood found benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine – present at more than 300 micrograms per litre, well above the specified limit of 50 micrograms per litre.
The driver, 28-year-old Mark Waters of Thornton Crescent in Wilton in Wiltshire, appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Monday 7 July 2025 and pleaded guilty to using a handheld mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle on a road, driving on a road whilst not wearing a seat belt and driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit.
He was sentenced to a three-year driving disqualification, a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work, £154 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.
After consultation with the Office of the Traffic Commissioners the defendant had his HGV licence revoked for a further year on top of the three-year ban and will be unable to reapply for his HGV licence until July 2029.
The defendant was also issued £1,100 fixed penalty notices due to a number of tachograph breaches, including driving without a tachograph card, failing to maintain records, insufficient rest and driving period too long.
Police Sergeant Dave Cotterill, of the Roads Policing Team, said: “This month, as part of a national campaign we are putting the spotlight on the biggest killers on the roads in Dorset, known as the fatal five.
“The fatal five includes drink and drug driving, excessive and inappropriate speed, not wearing a seatbelt, driver distractions such as using a mobile phone and dangerous or careless driving.
“The defendant in this case was committing three of the five fatal five offences, putting not only himself but other road users in serious danger. He also admitted a series of tachograph breaches – rules that are put in place to safeguard the driver and the public.
“Through our proactive enforcement activity, we were able to prevent a collision from occurring and ensured this motorist was taken off the roads.
“We want to remind everyone to always take the time to perform safe manoeuvres, do not get distracted by your mobile phone, keep within the speed limits, always wear a seatbelt and do not drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
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