WA'S first fixed freeway speed camera has snapped 20,000 "absolute idiots" in the five days since it was installed - including one driver clocked travelling at 199km/h.

Launching the 2011 Christmas road safety campaign, police today revealed 20,000 motorists had been caught exceeding the speed limit on Mitchell Freeway despite widespread publicity about the installation of the fixed camera.

Twelve drivers were travelling at more than 45km/h over the speed limit and two were flashed while drag racing each other at 9am on Sunday.

Police will allege a 28-year-old Mt Nasura man was driving a Holden Commodore at 199km/h in the 100km/h zone, while the 23-year-old Tapping man was allegedly nabbed travelling at 176km/h in his Mitsibishi Magna.

Both men had their cars seized under anti- hoon legislation and charged with reckless driving.

They will face court in January.

Police Minister Rob Johnson said the the number of drivers caught speeding on the freeway was disgraceful.

“They could have killed themselves, they could have killed other innocent people on the roads,” he said.

“These people are just completely disregarding the law. When you get 20,000 people in five days exceeding the speed limit on the Mitchell Freeway, these people are just absolute plain idiots.”

Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan said officers would be out in force over the Christmas period to target dangerous driving in metropolitan and country areas.

“The sad fact is that with around 190 road deaths being recorded during each of the past few years, more than ten families will face losing their loved ones between this Christmas and the New Year period,” he said.

“Sixteen people are yet to lose their lives on West Australian roads this summer. If you’re a family, think about that.

“Think about what your Christmas table would look like if people are missing because they were killed in a road traffic crash.”

Mr O’Callaghan said although enforcement and education contribute to saving many lives each year, drivers need to take road safety more seriously.

“We want people to think about their driving but ultimately, whether people die or live on the roads is a lot down to drivers themselves," he said.

Double demerits begin at 12.01am tomorrow and continue until January 8.