Holidays are synonymous with joy, celebration, and increased travel as people gather with loved ones or embark on festive outings.

However, this surge in holiday traffic also heightens the risk and consequences of traffic violations.

A single infraction can have far-reaching impacts on these special days, disrupting celebrations, causing significant delays, and even leading to tragic outcomes.

As the long weekend of King's Birthday approaches, many look forward to a well-deserved break, perhaps planning a road trip or visiting family and friends.

However, it's crucial to remember that with the public holiday comes a heightened focus on road safety and the implementation of double demerit points for some Australian states.

Double demerits are a traffic enforcement strategy used during peak travel to encourage safe driving.

This weekend, multiple jurisdictions will implement double demerit points. Credit: Shutterstock

If you're caught committing certain offences during these times, you'll receive twice the number of demerit points against your driver's license.

Offences in different areas can include speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, driving under the influence, using a phone while driving, biking without a helmet, running red lights, and avoiding speed cameras.

Here's what you need to know to stay on the right side of the law and keep your demerit points in check while enjoying the long weekend.

For those in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, double demerits will be effective from 12:01 AM on Friday, 7 June, before the long weekend, until 11:59 PM on Monday, 10 June.

During this period, offences such as speeding, illegal use of mobile phones, not wearing a seatbelt, and riding without a helmet will incur double demerits.

‘During the double demerit period for the King's Birthday last year, we tragically lost 13 people on our roads,’ Transport for NSW Centre for Road Safety and Maritime Safety Chief Bernard Carlon said.

‘We don't want to lose more lives this public holiday, so please be careful when you're on the road.’

Queensland does not celebrate the King's Birthday until 7 October, and it's worth noting that the state has a permanent double demerit system.

Double demerits are applied to individuals who commit the same offence twice within a 12-month period in Sunshine State.

This includes exceeding the speed limit by more than 20km/h and mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.

Western Australia also has a double demerits system, but the long weekend of the King's Birthday is observed later in the year, on 23 September.

For this upcoming long weekend, road rules will operate as usual.

Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and the Northern Territory are jurisdictions that do not employ a double demerits system. However, police presence typically increases during long weekends, and drivers are urged to remain vigilant and adhere to all road rules.

With the King's Birthday just around the corner, Australians are preparing for a long weekend of festivities, relaxation, and maybe some retail therapy.

Before heading out to enjoy the holiday sales or stock up for your celebrations, knowing which stores will be open and which will be closed on the coming long weekend is crucial.

Check out the list of open or closed stores on Monday here.

Key Takeaways

• Double demerits will come into effect in certain Australian jurisdictions during the long weekend of King's Birthday to deter driving offences.
• In New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, offences that incur double demerits include speeding, illegally using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt, and riding without a helmet.
• Queensland's double demerits apply to repeat offenders within a 12-month period for specific offences, even though the King's Birthday public holiday is celebrated at a different time.
• Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and the Northern Territory do not have a double demerits system. Still, police will be vigilant and active during the long weekend, ensuring the enforcement of road rules.

Do you have any road trip plans for the long weekend of King's Birthday? How do you prepare for a safe journey? Share your plans in the comments below.

 

[Tervueren]

No holidays for us. Safer and cheaper to stay at home