STONED drivers beware - you face more roadside drug-test blitzes.

The results of police roadside random checks at the weekend show there are four times as many drug-drivers on our roads as there are drink-drivers.

Senior police are so alarmed they have vowed to get the Brisbane-based Roads Drug Testing Unit back for regular blitzes.

"This is the first time the unit has been deployed in the Far North," Insp Bob Waters said. "This has shown us there is a problem here with people driving with illicit drugs in their system.

"We’ll request that they come back here on a regular basis to assist local police."

Of 140 drivers tested for drugs, six tested positive for either cannabis or ecstasy – a rate of one in every 24 drivers.

In the same period, there were only 22 drink-drivers caught out of 2147 tested – a rate of one in 98.

One of the motorists detected in the Far North had the highest level of cannabis in his system recorded in Queensland since roadside drug testing began.

Insp Waters said a number of other people tested positive for drugs during the preliminary roadside tests but were negative in the secondary tests.

"It concerns us because people who are driving around after taking illicit drugs are as dangerous as drink-drivers," he said.

"Our record for drink-drivers in the region is historically unacceptable, so this is a worry.

"It sends a message to the motoring public."

Police figures for 2006/07 showed the Far North had the highest rate of drug offences in the state.

In that time, about 1900 charges – or 36 a week – were laid for possession of cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy and other illegal drugs.

Roadside drug-testing, which involves saliva swabs taken from the driver’s tongue, was introduced in Queensland in December last year.

Results from the initial test are usually processed within five minutes.

Police expected to test about 20,000 people across Queensland in the first year of the law being introduced.

People convicted of driving under the influence of illegal drugs face $1000 fines, three months’ jail and licence suspension.

Insp Waters said the process was as random as roadside breath-testing for drink-drivers and motorists were not chosen because of their behaviour.

He said people who took prescription drugs should talk to their doctor to determine whether their driving abililities could be compromised.

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