One-in-five drink drivers netted in a major police blitz on local roads over the festive period recorded a high-range blood alcohol reading. 

That is a reading of 0.15 or higher. 

It’s a result jarring enough to make us all face up to our drinking culture. 

Fifty drivers were caught driving under the influence of alcohol across the Oxley, New England and Barwon commands under the statewide Operation Safe Arrival from December 16 to midnight Monday.

Not only is that figure in itself damning, but the fact that those offenders blew such high readings – and one so drunk that they drove through a roundabout the wrong way – is downright shameful. 

During the operation, the region’s police detected 791 drivers speeding, 33 people not wearing seat belts, or children not in approved restraints, and 59 people who tested positive to cannabis or methamphetamine.

Police conducted more than 18,000 breath tests throughout the operation, with 52 motorists caught drink driving – 11 with a high-range reading. 

Sure, we could be congratulated for a fatal-free holiday period in our region, but who knows the widespread devastation drunk drivers could have caused if local police didn’t catch them. 

Peel Cluster Senior Sergeant Brett Davies is right when he says those who recorded high-range readings may have a problem with alcohol. 

When drivers are drunk and still choose to get behind the wheel, they not only put themselves at risk, but also the lives of others who so innocently share the road with them. 

Among the most alarming was a 34-year-old, who was found to be travelling the wrong way through a roundabout with an alleged blood alcohol reading of .240 on New Year’s Eve.

It’s no surprise that drinking socially with friends and family is part of the Australian culture.

But it’s a major problem – and plain dangerous – when that is taken too far and someone drives after having a drink. 

If you’ve had a drink, throw away the keys, call a taxi or hitch a lift.

The same goes if you see someone about to get behind the wheel. 

Drink driving is a problem that we must all face up to.