Canobolas Local Area Command, Inspector Peter Atkins said it would take police, on average, a month to catch the same number of drunk drivers.

“The number of people caught with illicit drugs in their system is very high,” Inspector Atkins said.

“It’s hard to tell when the drugs were taken. The people who tested positive may have had drugs in their system for a number of hours.”

Inspector Atkins said the drug tests were conducted during normal working hours on Tuesday and Thursday by a mobile unit stationed at various locations in Orange.

He said the high number of charges indicate people don’t realise police are able to target drug-drivers at any time of the night or day, seven days a week.

“We need to remind people that electing to take drugs is against the law,” he said.

“They also need to know that the drugs can also stay in their system for a long time.”

Inspector Atkins said drug-drivers represented a “cross section of society” including men and women of all ages.

He said while most people were aware of the likelihood of being caught if they drink and drive, many believed they are not as likely to be caught drug-driving.

The majority of people tested in rural NSW were found to be using marijuana, followed by ice.

tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au