Police fear drug-drivers in regional Victoria think they can get away with it

New data shows the 15 locations where drug drivers are most frequently nabbed. If you’re going to be a mug and drive under the influence, this is where you’re most likely to get busted.

Regional Victoria is home to almost two-thirds of the state’s drug-driving hotspots. Picture: Sarah Matray

Almost two-thirds of the state’s drug-driving hotspots are in regional Victoria, with police increasingly ­concerned that country motorists think they can get away with it.

Nine of the 15 locations where drug drivers are most frequently nabbed are rural towns or regional centres, data released to the Sunday Herald Sun shows.

Victoria’s top traffic cop, Assistant Commissioner ­Stephen Leane of the Road Policing Command, said there was a deeply concerning culture of drug-driving in country areas.

A floral tribute to victims of a country road crash.

“People think they can drink and drive, or take drugs and drive, and not get caught,” Mr Leane said “This is simply not the case, and the statistics support this.”

Border city Wodonga is the state’s worst spot for drugged drivers, with 88 caught last year.

Warrnambool ranked fourth ­Victoria-wide with 64 caught, Bendigo had 61 drug drivers nabbed, Wangaratta 56, and Horsham and Traralgon each had 50.

Mr Leane said fewer transport ­options may tempt country people to get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs, or alcohol. But he warned they were putting lives at risk, adding that both were a problem throughout the state in both regional and metropolitan areas.

“People who fail to separate the consumption of drugs and alcohol from driving are choosing to put their own lives and the lives of others at risk and that really concerns me,’’ Mr Leane said.

“No area is immune to drug use, including regional centres such as Wodonga and Shepparton.

“Victoria Police remains concerned about drug use in the community, both in rural and metropolitan areas.

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“Drug-driving is selfish and irresponsible and there’s just no place on our roads for those who think they can take to the roads impaired.”

More than 4600 drug drivers were detected statewide last year. The most arrests in a metropolitan location was 67 in Frankston, the ­second-highest in the state. Melton saw 66, Dandenong 53 and Pakenham 53.

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