Hundreds of Victorian drivers have been caught drug-driving just before Christmas, with one in 11 drug tests coming back positive.
Since Victoria Police launched Operation Roadwise 11 days ago, hundreds of people have been nabbed driving under the influence.
"In the last 10 or 11 days, we've already had over 400 people done for drink-driving, and about 300 done for drug-driving," Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer told reporters on Thursday.
"Our strike rate for drug-driving is a huge concern - these people are simply not listening to the messages."
Mr Fryer said as horrible as it was for police to deliver death messages, hearing them was "far, far worse".
"Every day and a half we have a place of worship overflowing with people saying goodbye to someone who's been lost to road trauma," he said.
"So if you see a mate not right to drive, please intervene, say something and give them an alternate way to get to where they need to be."
Mr Fryer assured Victorians planning to attend public celebrations such as Carols by Candlelight or barbecues that they were safe.
"People should go about all of their activities and enjoy themselves across all of the festive functions," he said. "Victoria is a safe place, and it's about being alert, but not alarmed."
