An alarming number of motorists are choosing to start the new year by getting behind the wheel despite knowing they might be over the blood alcohol limit.
Many people are miscalculating their alcohol intake, mistakenly thinking they're OK to drive.
Some are blatantly ignoring the rules, knowingly putting their own safety and the lives of others at risk.
New Victoria Police analysis shows over the last three years almost half of drink drivers detected on New Year's Day were caught between midnight and 6am.
There were 68 drink drivers detected during the time period compared with 145 across the entire day.
Around two-thirds of motorists caught drink driving on New Year's Day recorded low-level to mid-range blood alcohol readings of between 0.05 and 0.099.
It suggests the majority of drink drivers are opting to run the gauntlet after a few celebratory drinks.
Police warn they'll be out anywhere, any time across New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to keep all road users safe.
The force's entire booze bus fleet will be deployed, while every police car also has the ability to perform roadside breath testing.
The penalties for drink driving are severe.
Even first-time offenders with a low-range reading face a $593 fine and will be disqualified from driving for three months.
They will also need to complete a drink driver behaviour change program, have an alcohol interlock for at least six months when allowed back on the road and maintain a zero blood alcohol requirement for at least three years.
Most importantly drink driving can cause catastrophic and irrevocable harm.
Victoria Police's focus on drink driving over the New Year forms part of Operation Roadwise, an all-out statewide policing effort which began on 13 December.
A total 260 drink drivers were detected on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day over the last three years.
This comprised 115 drivers caught on 31 December and 145 on 1 January.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir, Road Policing Command:
"A hangover lasts a day. Road trauma lasts a lifetime.
"We want everyone to separate their drinking and driving.
"Even if you've only had a few drinks, don't risk it.
"Police will be out anywhere, any time during New Year's celebrations.
"We'll be testing hundreds of thousands of drivers so if you think you won't get caught, think again.
"Even if you're a first-time offender who is just over the limit you'll receive a substantial fine and be disqualified from driving.
"It's simply not worth chancing it.
"Don't start the new year in the back of a police car."
