Sutherland Police try to curb a bump in cocaine-fuelled drivers

Police have noticed an increase in the number of people caught driving with cocaine in their system which they say is "disappointing" and "potentially fatal".

NSW Police Chief Inspector Paul Fownes says the message not to take drugs or drink and drive is not getting through to motorists in the Shire.

"We had 52 Highway Patrol officers that participated in an operation on Friday night targeting the entirety of the Sutherland Shire and the results were alarming, to say the least," he said.

"We detected 25 drug drivers during the operation with a combination of cocaine, methamphetamine or cannabis in their systems," he said.

"Some drivers had multiple drugs detected, all of which are now the subject of further testing.

"The drivers detected with cocaine get a 24-hour prohibition from driving and needless to say we have not seen a dramatic change in behaviour lately.

"Drug driving, especially cocaine, is up in the Shire and that is consistent with what we have found with recent operations. Friday night's operation has not seen a dramatic change in risky behaviour from drivers in the Shire."

Chief Inspector Fownes said the public should be alarmed that police are seeing a continuation of people detected with illicit drugs in their system who have decided to drive.

"The message from police is illicit drugs are illegal to take and they are dangerous when you are behind the wheel of a vehicle," he said.

"Depending on the individual, drugs will stay in your system for longer than alcohol and we are testing for the presence of drugs and we make no apologies for that, taking drugs and driving is as bad as drink driving.

"Having drugs in your system and driving could be a lethal combination. We see with road fatalities drugs are overly represented and all of this is avoidable.

"People in the Shire have other means of transport be that a taxi or an Uber or even a friend to drive them, all of this is avoidable that's the disappointing thing.

"Anybody that navigates a vehicle in the Shire can look forward to being tested and if you get caught with drugs in your system, you'll have the full force of the law thrown at you."

Chief Inspector Fownes said 2000 breath tests were conducted on Friday night and 17 Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol (PCA) offences were detected, 12 mid-range and five low-range.