The number of motorists charged with drink driving has dropped by almost 50 per cent over the Christmas period compared to last year's figures, according to NSW Police.
Officers from Operation Safe Arrival, which runs from December 19 to January 4, have conducted 304,089 random breath tests and charged just 377 people with drink driving offences.
At the same stage last year, 626 drivers had been charged from 322,691 random breath tests.
The figures indicate drivers are finally heeding the call of police to have a plan B when out celebrating.
The traffic and highway patrol commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, urged "everyone who is planning to drink to either leave their car at home or arrange a designated driver".
But while the number of drink drivers has decreased, more drivers have been caught speeding. Since December 19, police have detected 6134 people travelling over the speed limit, compared to 4522 last year.
Assistant Commissioner Hartley criticised motorists for continuing to ignore police warnings.
"Travelling above the speed limit is one of the leading factors of fatal and serious injury crashes," he said.
"To say I am disappointed by these numbers is an understatement," Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
"It's staggering that motorists are continuing to ignore our warnings and put their lives, and the lives of other road users, at significant risk."
The warning comes as a disqualified driver allegedly drove at speeds of 200km/h, evaded police and attempted to escape on a train before being apprehended.
The state's road toll stands at four, following a fatal collision in northern NSW on Wednesday afternoon. The national road toll, which only includes fatalities from December 23 to January 3, stands at three.
