Double demerits are back—don’t get caught out this weekend!
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With the Australia Day long weekend fast approaching, drivers are being warned of a shift in the rules of the road.
What seemed like a routine traffic measure has now turned into a significant caution for all motorists, with potential consequences that could leave you rethinking your driving habits.
The impact of these changes is expected to resonate throughout the weekend, as authorities prepare for a crackdown on road safety.
Motorists across Australia were warned that double demerit points were set to come into effect from Friday, as the Australia Day long weekend approached.
The measure, adopted by several states, was designed to encourage safer driving during peak travel periods when road fatalities typically rise.
In NSW, the ACT, and WA, police launched their road safety campaigns on Friday, targeting reckless driving over the long weekend, which ran until 27 January.
The crackdown focused on key traffic offences, such as speeding, driving under the influence, not wearing seatbelts, running red lights, and using mobile phones while driving.
In WA, motorists driving vehicles with devices designed to evade speed cameras risked losing 14 points during the double demerit period.
This could lead to an automatic licence suspension.
Meanwhile, Queensland's system applied double demerit points only to repeat offenders, rather than those caught during holiday periods.
In the Sunshine State, drivers received double demerit points for a second or subsequent offence within 12 months.
This included offences such as speeding, using mobile phones, seatbelt violations, and not wearing a motorcycle helmet.
Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania stopped enforcing double demerit penalties in September 2023.
The scheme is no longer applied to long weekends or holiday periods.
Motorists in Queensland who will commit traffic offences in other states could still face demerit points, impacting their traffic history as if the offence had occurred in Queensland.
As the long weekend approaches, road safety remains a key concern for authorities.
Double demerit penalties reinforced the importance of safe driving.
With penalties on the line, how will you ensure you're driving safely and avoiding costly mistakes? Share your thoughts in the comments.
What seemed like a routine traffic measure has now turned into a significant caution for all motorists, with potential consequences that could leave you rethinking your driving habits.
The impact of these changes is expected to resonate throughout the weekend, as authorities prepare for a crackdown on road safety.
Motorists across Australia were warned that double demerit points were set to come into effect from Friday, as the Australia Day long weekend approached.
The measure, adopted by several states, was designed to encourage safer driving during peak travel periods when road fatalities typically rise.
In NSW, the ACT, and WA, police launched their road safety campaigns on Friday, targeting reckless driving over the long weekend, which ran until 27 January.
The crackdown focused on key traffic offences, such as speeding, driving under the influence, not wearing seatbelts, running red lights, and using mobile phones while driving.
In WA, motorists driving vehicles with devices designed to evade speed cameras risked losing 14 points during the double demerit period.
This could lead to an automatic licence suspension.
Meanwhile, Queensland's system applied double demerit points only to repeat offenders, rather than those caught during holiday periods.
In the Sunshine State, drivers received double demerit points for a second or subsequent offence within 12 months.
This included offences such as speeding, using mobile phones, seatbelt violations, and not wearing a motorcycle helmet.
Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania stopped enforcing double demerit penalties in September 2023.
The scheme is no longer applied to long weekends or holiday periods.
Motorists in Queensland who will commit traffic offences in other states could still face demerit points, impacting their traffic history as if the offence had occurred in Queensland.
As the long weekend approaches, road safety remains a key concern for authorities.
Double demerit penalties reinforced the importance of safe driving.
With penalties on the line, how will you ensure you're driving safely and avoiding costly mistakes? Share your thoughts in the comments.
