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Nowra may have been listed in the top five areas throughout the state for drug-driving offences but according to police that is a good thing.
It reflects the work of the Shoalhaven Local Area Command and the various drug-driving and drink-driving operations conducted in the local command.
Nowra placed fifth in the 10 worst drug-driving areas in the last financial year, recording 107 people being charged, which was well down on the state leader Armidale with 174 offences.
Port Macquarie was next with 152, Goulburn 145 and Liverpool 113. Nowra was fifth followed by Taree with 104, Mudgee 87, South Tamworth 79, Young 77 and Griffith on 75 rounding out the top 10.
While it may not be a good look for the area to feature on such a list, it highlights the fact local police continue to crack down on drug use and in particular drug-driving.
Across the Shoalhaven, police regularly undertake drug-driving operations, charging drivers caught driving after taking methamphetamines and cannabis and placing them before the courts.
What drug users don’t often understand is, even though they might not be impaired at the time, the drugs can stay in their system. On average cannabis can stay in a person’s system for between three and five days, while ice can be present for up to five days.
Despite the high figure it is a vast improvement from when the Drager 5000 mobile drug testing units were first introduced in the Shoalhaven in August 2015, where in a three-month period more than 249 drivers were caught from 29 different Shoalhaven suburbs, including an 81-year-old man.
In the last year 25,000 people were caught, drink and drug-driving across NSW.
End of financial year statistics showed a decrease of 1406 drivers charged with drug-driving, and a decrease of 1562 charged with drink-driving.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the state's Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said statistics indicate some road users were getting the message, however there were still too many who drink or take drugs and drive.
“A decline in drink and drug-driving shows the message is starting to get across and the community will not tolerate those who put themselves and others at risk,” he said.
“However, it is still alarming to see that there were more than 17,000 drink-drivers, and more than 8000 drug-drivers on our roads in the last financial year.
“Every one of those drivers or riders have shown a complete lack of regard for not only their own life, but the lives of all others using the road.
“Evidence is clear that drink and drug-drivers are costing lives on NSW roads.
“We will not stop, and we make no apologies for catching and prosecuting anyone who thinks it’s okay to drink or take drugs and drive.”
The 10 worst areas for drink driving in NSW during the financial year were – Byron Bay 205, Coffs Harbour 176, Dubbo 155, Griffith 144, Port Macquarie 144, Goulburn 99, Ballina 85, Blacktown 83, Orange 81 and Tweed Heads 79.
Statistics also showed 249,814 people were detected speeding during the financial year – an increase of 25,661 compared to last year.
The 10 worst areas were - Wilton 3066, Mittagong 2256, Mascot 2125, Nabiac 1730, Waterfall 1646, Lawson 1545, Cateract 1544, Coffs Harbour 1531, Bilpin 1471 and Eastern Creek 1463.