Driving down demerits: State’s clean slate trial leaves motorists wiped clean
- Replies 1
The roads of New South Wales have seen a significant shift in driver behaviour, thanks to a novel trial aimed at promoting safer driving practices.
In a move that has sparked both relief and debate, over 1.2 million NSW motorists have had the slate wiped clean of a demerit point from their driving records.
This initiative, part of a broader strategy to curb the rising road toll, has been met with a mix of enthusiasm and scrutiny.
Introduced as an election promise, the NSW Government offered motorists a chance to redeem themselves: go an entire year without any infringements, from January 17, 2023, to January 16, 2024, and have one demerit point removed.
This carrot approach, as opposed to the usual enforcement stick, was designed to encourage drivers to maintain a clean record and, by extension, safer roads.
In NSW, demerit points are like ghosts driving past—they never indeed vanish.
Although they don't get erased, offences older than 40 months don't count towards a license suspension.
This 40-month period starts ticking when an offence is finalised, whether you pay your fine or a court rules against your appeal.
The trial's success is evident in the numbers, with 1.2 million motorists benefiting from the point removal.
However, the NSW Government has yet to release data on how many drivers continued to accumulate demerit points during the 12 months.
The trial's impact on the driving habits of those who had previously received demerit points also remains unclear.
Despite the trial's positive reception, the increase in road fatalities casts a shadow. In 2023, NSW saw a 24.9 per cent rise in road deaths, with 351 lives lost.
This marked the state with the most deaths and the second-highest year-on-year increase across Australia, just behind South Australia's alarming 64.8 per cent surge.
Yet, the NSW Government remains optimistic, extending the demerit point reward trial for another year and hailing it as a victory for road safety.
People are used to the stick of enforcement and double demerits, but this is the carrot of reward for good behaviour,’ said John Graham, NSW Minister for Roads.
‘Every demerit point wiped from a licence under this trial is the result of a full 12 months of safe driving by a motorist on NSW roads.’
‘This is what we need at a time when fatalities on our roads have been rising just as they are in all other states and territories,’ he added.
In a broader push for road safety, earlier this month, the Federal Government stepped in, requiring states and territories to provide previously withheld safety data to access road funding.
Last week’s Federal Budget announced that the new five-year funding deal, known as the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects, will start July 1, 2024, and include a $21.2 million investment in the National Road Safety Data Hub.
Queensland has already committed to sharing data on car crashes, traffic policing, and road conditions with the Federal Government.
As news circulated about the wiping of demerit points for over 1.2 million NSW motorists, highlighting changes in traffic regulations, another story emerged that has sparked widespread discussion among drivers.
Amidst concerns about demerit point penalties and road safety, one driver's unconventional excuse after accumulating 22 demerit points has captured attention.
These incidents shed light on the complexities of traffic laws and the consequences of violations, prompting reflection on responsible driving practices and adherence to regulations.
Do you believe the carrot approach is effective in promoting safer driving habits? Have you or someone you know benefited from the demerit point removal trial? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
In a move that has sparked both relief and debate, over 1.2 million NSW motorists have had the slate wiped clean of a demerit point from their driving records.
This initiative, part of a broader strategy to curb the rising road toll, has been met with a mix of enthusiasm and scrutiny.
Introduced as an election promise, the NSW Government offered motorists a chance to redeem themselves: go an entire year without any infringements, from January 17, 2023, to January 16, 2024, and have one demerit point removed.
This carrot approach, as opposed to the usual enforcement stick, was designed to encourage drivers to maintain a clean record and, by extension, safer roads.
Around 1.2 million NSW motorists had one demerit point removed from their licenses in a trial promoting safer driving. Credits: Shutterstock
In NSW, demerit points are like ghosts driving past—they never indeed vanish.
Although they don't get erased, offences older than 40 months don't count towards a license suspension.
This 40-month period starts ticking when an offence is finalised, whether you pay your fine or a court rules against your appeal.
The trial's success is evident in the numbers, with 1.2 million motorists benefiting from the point removal.
However, the NSW Government has yet to release data on how many drivers continued to accumulate demerit points during the 12 months.
The trial's impact on the driving habits of those who had previously received demerit points also remains unclear.
Despite the trial's positive reception, the increase in road fatalities casts a shadow. In 2023, NSW saw a 24.9 per cent rise in road deaths, with 351 lives lost.
This marked the state with the most deaths and the second-highest year-on-year increase across Australia, just behind South Australia's alarming 64.8 per cent surge.
Yet, the NSW Government remains optimistic, extending the demerit point reward trial for another year and hailing it as a victory for road safety.
People are used to the stick of enforcement and double demerits, but this is the carrot of reward for good behaviour,’ said John Graham, NSW Minister for Roads.
‘Every demerit point wiped from a licence under this trial is the result of a full 12 months of safe driving by a motorist on NSW roads.’
‘This is what we need at a time when fatalities on our roads have been rising just as they are in all other states and territories,’ he added.
In a broader push for road safety, earlier this month, the Federal Government stepped in, requiring states and territories to provide previously withheld safety data to access road funding.
Last week’s Federal Budget announced that the new five-year funding deal, known as the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects, will start July 1, 2024, and include a $21.2 million investment in the National Road Safety Data Hub.
Queensland has already committed to sharing data on car crashes, traffic policing, and road conditions with the Federal Government.
As news circulated about the wiping of demerit points for over 1.2 million NSW motorists, highlighting changes in traffic regulations, another story emerged that has sparked widespread discussion among drivers.
Amidst concerns about demerit point penalties and road safety, one driver's unconventional excuse after accumulating 22 demerit points has captured attention.
These incidents shed light on the complexities of traffic laws and the consequences of violations, prompting reflection on responsible driving practices and adherence to regulations.
.png){kind=icon}
