Cocaine will be added to the list of roadside testing for NSW drivers after 392 deaths in 2017 and 17 this year. 

Police figures revealed Young was in the top ten of the worst towns or suburbs in New South Wales for drug-driving in 2017.

NSW Roads Minister Melissa Pavey said driving under the influence of drugs had emerged as a significant factor in the road toll, along with speeding and fatigue.

Police fear their anti-drug driving message is not getting through to locals.

Hume Police District Commander Christopher Schilt said testing for cocaine at roadside drug testing sites is a necessary move. 

"Cannabis, ecstasy and ice have been subject to roadside testing for a while now and adding cocaine to the list are warranted," he said.

“The road toll is something police take very seriously and the last thing we want to see is locals dying on the roads."

Commander Schilt said taking drugs and driving was not acceptable to most people in the community.

"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.”

Mr Schilt said officers in the Hume Police District would definitely do their fair share of random drug and breath testing in the hope to deter people from doing the wrong thing.

”Do not drink drive and do not take illicit drugs and then get behind the wheel,” he said.

“Any police vehicle can be a Mobile Drug Test (MDT) unit, not just those from the highway patrol.” 

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke welcomed the NSW police initiative. 

“There is no doubt after this horror holiday period and start to 2018 we should be looking at what is needed to make our roads safer,” she said.

“I welcome new initiatives like cocaine testing that will help prevent deaths and injuries and keep our local families safe. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and it is every single driver’s responsibility to ensure that they are fit to take the wheel.”