Statistics released by NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol, as part of the end of financial year, placed Goulburn third for drug- driving charges (145) following Port Macquarie and Armidale.

Goulburn placed sixth for drink-driving offences (99) following Port Macquarie, Griffith, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay.  

NSW Police maintain drink-driving across the state has declined, with a decrease of 1406 drivers charged with drug-driving and 1562 for drink-driving.

But Hume LAC Detective Inspector Chad Gillies said a lot of people are still not getting the message about the risks associated with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 

“Our command and highway patrol spend a lot of time proactively patrolling our main roads and a lot of our back roads,” Inspector Gillies said.

“We have a high volume of traffic coming through the town by virtue of the Hume Highway. A high amount of people come through the area.”

He said there was a heavy focus on Operation Chrome, an operation set up to target rural and regional roads and localities.

“A combination of all those things contributes to these figures,” he said.

Police are working on proactively reducing trauma and serious motor vehicle accidents, he said, with a focus on education. 

NSW Police have invested 18 months to the country roads campaign in partnership with relevant councils and organisations.

Inspector Gillies said public awareness of drug-driving has raised its head recently, in comparison to the lengthier, nation wide focus on drink-driving. 

“The key message is safe driver behaviour. People need to understand illicit drugs can stay in your system for days,” he said.

“We will continue to work with the community and other government agencies, local business and licensed premises to work on strategies to educate the community.” 

“For us it’s engagement, education and enforcement.” 

The Hume LAC was one of the first areas in the state to have permanent access to random drug testing equipment technology.