Almost 1100 people were killed on Australian roads in 2020.

Thirty-six of those were Tasmanians with many more families and friends missing someone at the Christmas table or a festive season barbecue.

Lives irrevocably changed.

Yet despite hundreds of thousands of Australians killed in crashes this century and repeated conversations and campaigns about safety, nothing seems to dramatically change.

The Fatal Five - speed, seatbelts, alcohol and drugs, distraction and fatigue - are well publicised and taught, and state governments invest millions upgrading infrastructure, changing laws and devising ways we teach the next crop of motorists to drive.

But it seems the actions and attitudes of a reckless minority that make driving a vehicle a dangerous proposition for the majority.

Tasmania Police caught dozens of people drink and drug driving over the Christmas and New Year's period.

They issued a concerning 795 infringement notices for speeding offences, 38 for inattentive driving, 25 for mobile phone use and 14 for seat belt offences in a fortnight.

There is no remedy for stupidity but almost 800 instances of speeding is negligent and deadly behaviour where the driver had a choice to be safer and chose not to be.

There is always going to be a risk on the roads, even if everyone was as cautious a humanly possible, but it's idiots like those caught during Operation Crossroads that cause misery on innocent people.

As Acting Inspector Justin Lawson said: "There are fines for disobeying the road rules, but the real penalty could be seriously injuring or killing yourself or someone else".

"Obey the speed limit, it's there for a reason, it's there for a reason, and never drive after drinking or taking drugs. You'll be putting more than your life on the line," he said.

Holding a driver licence is a privilege, not a right.

Let's hope more people start to treat it as such, for everyone's sake.