Magistrates on the Border have commented about the growing prevalence of drivers putting their own lives and those of others at such a significant risk.

The issue has become even more concerning with the rapid rise in the use of methamphetamine, or ice, by so many.

But while police have long been well-resourced when it comes to catching drink-drivers, the situation that applies to those who take drugs is at polar opposites.

Police do what they can, but they are simply hamstrung by a lack of resources. And that is not necessarily the fault of police services or government, given just quickly this has become a significant problem.

That makes the latest development in Albury police’s fight against drug-driving especially welcome.

Drug testing might now become more common with a welcome increase in resourcing.

That would involve using new four-wheel-drive units to allow police to target drug-affected motorists on back roads.

NSW Police Minister Troy Grant discussed the spike in ice use when he met Albury police chief Superintendent Beth Stirton.

That led to Mr Grant raising the possibility of these units being used in Albury, something Superintendent Stirton backed.

It is abundantly clear just why the units would be so useful, especially in targeting people known to flout the laws by going out onto the roads drug-affected.

As Superintendent Stirton pointed out,  there was “unfortunately” quite a high reporting result when the mobile drug-testing van visited Albury.

"We had it down here only two weeks ago and we had a one in six hit rate with people driving with drugs, whether they be illegal or legal,” she said.

That means getting the four-wheel-drive units down to Albury should be a priority, for the police but especially for the government.

There is no one answer to dealing with what some have coined an ice crisis.

But by at least getting better resourced testing procedures into the Albury area, police will have an important tool in trying to safeguard the community’s safety now and into the future.