What’s the deal with double demerits?

Demerit points are penalty points you receive for committing a traffic offence, such as speeding or dangerous driving. All drivers and motorcycle riders start with a clean slate of zero points. If you follow the road rules and drive safely, you won’t have any demerit points added to your driving record.  

The purpose of the demerit point system is to encourage people to drive safely and follow road rules. The more offences you commit, the more demerit points you’ll collect, and if you exceed the demerit point limit, your licence could be suspended. Demerit points of any kind last for three years on your driving record.  

As the name suggests, double demerits are twice the usual amount of penalty points applied to drivers committing certain traffic offences, including:

• Speeding 

• Illegal use of mobile phones

• A driver or passenger not wearing, or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt 

• Riding a motorcycle without a helmet

 In NSW and the ACT, double demerits apply during high-risk periods such as public holiday weekends and the festive season, when more people are travelling on the roads and accidents are more likely to occur. The aim is to encourage road users to follow traffic laws and take greater care when driving during busy periods. These times include: 

• Christmas Day

• Boxing Day 

• New Year’s Day

• Australia Day 

• Easter

• And other public holidays. 

In Queensland, double demerits apply all year round, not just during holiday periods. People who repeatedly commit specific offences will receive double demerit points for the second or subsequent offence if the later offence was committed within a 12-month period.  

When double demerits were first introduced in 1997 in NSW, critics questioned the NSW State Government’s agenda, claiming it was little more than a revenue-raising scheme. But police say over two decades of enforcing double demerits has resulted in at least 433 fewer deaths on NSW roads during public holiday periods.

No, the fine is generally the same for most offences, only the points are doubled. For example, a driver caught speeding will need to pay the normal fine amount, but they will be penalised with double the standard amount of penalty points on their driving record. However, for offences such as seatbelt infringements, the driver can also be issued a fine for everyone else in the car who’s not wearing a seatbelt.

Double demerit periods are usually advertised via traditional media and social media as part of a public awareness campaign. You might also see a double demerits warning displayed on an electronic road sign, especially on major roads like motorways and freeways.

If you stay under the speed limit, buckle up and follow the road rules, you don’t have to worry. Take extra care on the road during holiday periods when more people are travelling and try to be patient with your fellow motorists. Everyone wants their loved ones to arrive at their destinations safely, so even if it costs you a few more minutes of travel time, it’s worth the effort to look after your family and someone else’s, too.