Northern Roads and Public Order Safety Inspector Darren Hopkins said cannabis, methamphetamines including ice, and cocaine were the substances of choice for drug-drivers.

‘‘It’s almost to the point that we’re getting as many drug-drivers as we are drink-drivers,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re even picking up drug-drivers leaving pubs.’’

While police have struggled to reach benchmarks for detecting drink-drivers, Inspector Hopkins said the same can’t be said for drug-drivers.

The reason for the spike isn’t clear. As opposed to random breath tests, drug testing is targeted due to its relatively high cost.

‘‘If someone has the appearance that they might have been using drugs or drug paraphernalia in the car or has prior convictions for drugs then they are obviously going to be subject to a drug test versus an RBT,’’ he said.

Inspector Hopkins said there was probably a perception that getting caught while drug-driving was unlikely given it’s a relatively new police tool.

‘‘Now your chances of getting caught drug-driving are just as high as drink-driving in the Northern part of the state,’’ he said.

‘‘And we’re going to continue to focus on that.’’

Inspector Hopkins said it was concerning to see the same motorists caught drug-driving who then assert they won’t cease because they are regular cannabis smokers.

Last financial year Tasmania Police caught nearly 650 drug-drivers compared to more than 2744 drink-drivers.

In that time police carried out 1819 drug tests versus more than 500,000 RBTs.