Police caught 160 drivers with drugs or excessive alcohol in their systems during an impaired-driving crackdown across Canberra in August.

More than 24,000 breath tests and 400 drug tests were conducted during large-scale operations and mobile patrols.

Of those tested, 72 drivers allegedly exceeded the alcohol limit for their licence, while 88 tested positive for prescribed drugs including cannabis, methylamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine.

Road Policing officer-in-charge Detective Inspector Mark Steel said the number of impaired drivers was “alarming and disappointing”.

“Impaired driving remains one of the fatal five factors for serious collisions on our roads,” he said.

Police say August was a record month for tests, infringements and charges.