To help protect people over the Christmas period the police have joined with the Motor Accident Commission to launch the Operation Safe Holidays campaign which will run until January 27.

Assistant police commissioner Linda Williams said during the past five years of SAPOL's Christmas road safety campaign there were 58 fatal crashes causing 68 deaths, including 11 for the Murray and Mallee region.

"That's too many families and friends who will be missing loved ones this Christmas," she said.

"Police have a great gift idea for Christmas - safe, careful driving-  please, give it this Christmas."

Ms Williams said police were concerned by the number of drivers who had total disregard for their owns safety, for the safety of other road users and the law.

"In this campaign we'll be targeting offences that we know end in road deaths - failing to wear a seatbelt, speeding and distraction," she said.

"Officers will be highly-visible and will make no excuses for targeting dangerous driver behaviour.

"We don't want to see another tragic month like last December when 11 people lost their lives.

"During Operation Safe Holidays police will specifically target drink driving, mobile phone offences and seatbelt offences.

They will also focus on dangerous driving behaviour in areas at high risk for fatal and serious injury crashes and focusing on repeat driving offenders.

"We'll be conducting a number of high volume, high visibility random driver testing operations," Ms Williams said.

"These operations will test as many motorists as possible, with police working multiple sites.

"We have technology and operations in place to detect drivers doing the wrong thing. 

"You won't know where we'll pop up next - so don't take the chance and drink and drive."

Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu: 11