South-west police road safety adviser Senior Sergeant Chris Asenjo said drugs had never been a bigger issue than they were today.

"We've received additional funding for test kits and we will be testing for illicit drugs," he said.

"One in just five drug tests return a positive. It's an incredibly high percentage.

"We've got a number of different tools in our kit now, to test for not only illicit but also medicinal pharmaceutical drugs."

Senior Sergeant Asenjo said about 30 south-west officers were approved to conduct sobriety assessments.

He said those assessments were similar to the previously used USA-style 'walk the straight line' tests.

"Particularly when we have evidence of poor driving and there's a suspicion of impairment, officers can demand drivers go back to the police station for a sobriety test.

"If that assessment is conducted and there are still queries about impairment then officers can demand a driver undergo a blood test."

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Senior Sergeant Asenjo said blood would be tested for both illicit and pharmaceutical drugs.

"A first conviction for driving under the influence of drugs is punishable by a term of imprisonment," he said.

"Drug testing is certainly a greater focus. The ability to drive and ensure community safety is paramount in our thinking.

"Your safety and the safety of everyone in the community has to be our first priority.

"We'll also be focusing on more random drug testing so all drivers can expect to be stopped and asked to complete a drug test - just the same as we've done for a long time with alcohol tests."

New data shows that Warrnambool is a regional hot spot for positive drug tests.

Opposition rural roads spokeswoman Roma Britnell said Warrnambool had the fourth-highest number of positive drug tests in the state last year.

The city had 64 positive tests last year, ranking behind Wodonga 88, Frankston 67 and Melton 66, but ahead of Bendigo 61, Wangaratta 56 and Dandenong and Pakenham, both 53.

Ms Britnell said it was deeply concerning that people continued to take drugs and risks with more than 4600 drug drivers detected in Victoria last year.

"There are now more drivers dying on our roads with drugs in their system than there are drivers dying with alcohol in their system," she said.

"Drug drivers pose an enormous danger to themselves and to every other road user, but drug testing is inadequate and penalties are significantly less than for drink driving.

"Data reveals 64 people were caught drug driving in the Warrnambool area as Premier Daniel Andrews is ripping $2.9 billion from the Transport Accident Commission and has cut roadside tests by 400,000 across the state.

Ms Britnell said rather than cutting funding, the opposition's three-point plan for road safety would work towards reducing the number of deaths on the state's roads.

She said they would fund 1000 extra drug tests each week, increasing penalties for drug driving in line with drink driving and focus speed camera site selection on reducing road trauma, not raising revenue.

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