Young is amongst the worst towns or suburbs in New South Wales for drug-driving incidents, police figures have revealed.
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End of financial year statistics shows that there has been a decrease of 1406 drivers charged in NSW with drug-driving, and a decrease of 1562 charged with drink-driving across the state.
But Young has come in at number nine in the top ten of the worst towns in the state with 77 incidents recorded and police fear their anti drug driving message is not getting through to locals.
Cootamundra LAC Superintendent Christopher Schilt said the figures are disappointing.
"Evidence is clear that drink and drug-drivers are costing lives on our roads," he said.
"It should hit home in small towns like Young where people know each other especially when we hear of a fatality or a driver being caught drug driving; someone would know that person so drivers should be responsible.
"We have so many people in our community doing their bit raising awareness, such as Rotary with their driver simulator, people going to schools, but there are those who are not getting the message, and they are putting lives at risk.
“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."
Young Rotary Driver Training Coordinator Frank Lincoln said the club is frustrated by the police figures.
"Our training simulates the effects driving while intoxicated or on drugs have on a person and the effects on a driver, so maybe more people need to use it for the message to get across," he said.
Youth Council of Young spokesman Austin McSeeters said the figures show an alarming lack of consideration for life.
"The figures mean that basically there are a lot of idiots in Young," he said. "People need to think their actions through because it will only be a matter of time before a big accident happens in Young as a result of drug driving. The Youth Council will look to run workshops or get information out to bring this problem into the light."
The ten worst drug driving towns/suburbs in NSW were:
- 1. Armidale (174)
- 2. Port Macquarie (152)
- 3. Goulburn (145)
- 4. Liverpool (113)
- 5. Nowra (107)
- 6. Taree (104)
- 7. Mudgee (87)
- 8. South Tamworth (79)
- 9. Young (77)
- 10. Griffith (75)