WARRNAMBOOL police are catching a drug impaired driver every day as they target repeat offenders with the aim of cutting the region's road toll.
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South west police road safety manager Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Asenjo said drug impaired drivers were a significant issue across the region and well represented in road trauma statistics.
"Warrnambool highway patrol unit is devoting significant resources to targeting impaired drivers," he said.
"From July 1 the Warrnambool police highway patrol unit has caught 116 drug impaired drivers, that's more than one a day.
"Those figures are provisional as some of those tests are yet to be forensic analysed and the numbers also include people who refuse drug tests."
Acting Senior Sergeant Asenjo said that in the first six months of the year there were 88 drug impaired drivers apprehended.
"We do have a focus on targeted drug testing. Alcohol testing is generally more random," he said.
"Highway patrol officers conducted just over 200 tests from July 1 and currently have a strike rate of 54 per cent.
"The highway patrol members have a terrific focus on targeting drivers."
Acting Senior Sergeant Asenjo said drivers found guilty of driving under the influence of drugs were also further targeted after they were banned from driving.
"They are then targeted as an unauthorised driver and if caught again risk jail terms and look at having their vehicles being impounded," he said.
"Impaired and unauthorised drivers are significantly represented in road trauma incidents.
"The aim is to reduce the number of drug impaired and unauthorised numbers from the roads and hopefully that will lead to a drop in road trauma."
The road safety manager said that in regional areas specialised police were aware of offending individuals were able to target them.
"Victoria Police is focusing on these offenders. We know if one day they have a licence, the next day they don't and when we see them driving, we will act," Acting Senior Sergeant Asenjo said.
"Fatal and serious injury accidents are down and we will continue to do everything we can. We have never been more focused on catching impaired drivers.
"If you consume alcohol or drug you will intercepted, tested and if caught you will be dealt with - and then further targeted in future."
Acting Senior Sergeant Asenjo said the emphasis was about driving down the road toll.
"It's about reducing road trauma. We want to reduce high risk offending and targeting impaired drivers is one way to do that," he said.
"Impaired drivers should not be behind the wheel of a car, they put all road users at risk.
"Our other units - such as the crime investigation unit and divisional response unit - are also involved when we target recidivist offenders through our holistic approach."
The road safety manager said it was everyone's responsibility to help reduce road trauma.
"That's could be through passing on any information to police," he said.
"If you see poor or dangerous driving ring Triple 0 immediately. If you know someone who drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs let us know and we will target that person."
Acting Senior Sergeant Asenjo said information could be passed on to police anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or on the website www.crimestoppers.com.au
