About one in five drivers pulled over by police are testing positive for illicit drugs, Hunter’s head of highway patrol said.
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Senior Sergeant Tony Grace said the number of drug driving cases was a concern.
“Obviously anyone driving under the influence of any drugs, whether it be alcohol or illicit drugs, is a very big concern for us,” he said.
“The drug operations we’ve conducted in the Hunter over the last six months have been quite concerning.
“We’ve seen a hit rate of about one in five drivers testing positive for illicit drugs.”
Senior Sergeant Grace said, while most people understood the effects of alcohol on driving, people needed to be more aware of the dangers of drug driving.
“Obviously [drug taking] alters people’s perception of reality,” he said.
“Drugs can cause hyper-vigilance, drowsiness, and people taking illicit drugs simply don’t know what effect they are going to have on them because they can’t be sure what’s in it.”
Senior Sergeant Grace issued the warning after six people appeared before Maitland Local Court on Monday charged with driving with an illicit drug in their blood.
Two of those six drivers were second offenders.
The drugs in the systems of those motorists included ice, ecstasy and cannabis.
Sergeant Grace said he hoped drivers would start to understand the dangers.
“I honestly don’t know what it will take for people to get the message,” he said.
“For the last 30 years we’ve been doing breath testing and people still drink and drive.
“Hopefully, through enforcement and education people will start to think twice about taking illicit drugs and driving.
“Every time you get into a motor vehicle you are piloting a potentially dangerous weapon and you need to be fully aware of what is going on.”
In August, 67 drivers tested positive to illicit drugs in their system during a three-day blitz in Maitland, Cessnock and Singleton.
State government figures released in early August showed there had been 14 fatal crashes on Hunter roads in the past three years that involved drivers with illicit drugs in their system.
Senior Sergeant Grace issued the warning after six people appeared before Maitland Local Court on Monday charged with driving with an illicit drug in their blood.
Two of those six drivers were second offenders.
The drugs in the systems of those motorists included ice, ecstasy and cannabis.
Senior Sergeant Grace said he hoped drivers would start to understand the dangers.
“I honestly don’t know what it will take for people to get the message,” he said.
“For the last 30 years we’ve been doing breath testing and people still drink and drive.
“Hopefully, through enforcement and education people will start to think twice about taking illicit drugs and driving.
“Every time you get into a motor vehicle you are piloting a potentially dangerous weapon and you need to be fully aware of what is going on.”
In August, 67 drivers tested positive to illicit drugs in their system during a three-day blitz in Maitland, Cessnock and Singleton.
State government figures released in early August showed there had been 14 fatal crashes on Hunter roads in the past three years that involved drivers with illicit drugs in their system.
