DEMERIT POINTS EXPLAINED

DEMERIT POINTS EXPLAINED
DEMERIT POINTS EXPLAINED
Earning points is usually a good thing. Frequent flyer points, store loyalty points, or even scoring points for your soccer team.

Demerit points, on the other hand, don’t work that way. In fact, it’s the opposite. Earn enough points and you’ll end up losing (your licence) rather than winning.

You get points by breaking the road rules. The number of points you get varies based on the rule.

Get too many points and your licence will be suspended:

  • Learner and P1 drivers will have their licence suspended for least 3 months if they get 4 or more demerit points over 3 years.
  • P2 drivers face losing their right to drive if they get 7 or more points in 3 years.
  • Unrestricted drivers are suspended when they reach 13 points in 3 years.

Also, P2 licence holders  who receive a licence suspension for unsafe driving behaviour must stay an extra 6 months on their licence for every licence suspension they receive. This happens when a P2 licence holder is suspended for a demerit point offence or a suspension for committing a higher risk road traffic offence (such as exceeding the speed limit by 30km/h or more).

It is illegal to drive with a suspended licence – you could have to pay a big fine, and might even face jail time.

How to avoid getting points

The best and simplest way to avoid demerit points is to always drive or ride safely and sensibly, and stick to the road rules.

But to really spell it out:

  • Don’t speed – L and P1 plate drivers will get at least 4 points if they’re caught speeding, which means your licence is suspended straight away.
  • Don’t drink and drive – a no brainer really. L and P plate drivers can’t drink any alcohol if they’re planning to drive. If you blow more than 0.00, be ready to go to court and hand over your licence.
  • Don’t use your mobile – it’s illegal for L , P1 and P2 plate drivers to use a phone while driving, in any way. That includes answering or making calls (even hands-free), sending or reading text messages, updating Facebook or checking Twitter.
  • Wear your signs with pride – your L or P signs should be attached to the outside of your car, front and back. If you’re spotted with them propped up on the dash or taped to the inside windows, you’ll cop two demerit points and a fine. The same applies if all of the letter P cannot be seen.
  • One mate only – P1 plate drivers under 25 can carry only one passenger younger than 21 in the car with them between 11pm and 5am.

Want to know what it’s worth?

The number of demerit points you get varies depending on the road rule. You can search demerit point offences and read about the demerit point rules on Roads and Maritime Services website.

Double trouble

Demerit points for speeding, not wearing a seatbelt or helmet, and mobile phone offences are doubled during long weekends and holiday periods like Easter and Christmas/New Year.

For L and P plate drivers and riders, it’s even more likely you’ll lose your licence on the spot if you break the rules during a double demerit period.

Check the double demerit periods for this year.

Checking your demerit points balance

You can find out how many demerit points you have on the Service NSW website.

To do this you’ll need to set up an online account with Service NSW if you haven’t already got one – this protects your privacy and keeps your personal information safe.

TEST YOUR TIRED EYES

Fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip no matter how long or short, or what time of day it is.

Think about the last time you had a big Friday night out, and you had to be up early the next morning to go to work or go play sport? How much sleep did you have, 4 maybe 5 hours? The normal amount of ZZZ’s the average adult needs each night is about 7-9 hours.

Before you jump in your car, Geared suggests you testyourtiredself, and find out if you in need a little more R&R before jumping behind the wheel.

Fast facts on driver-fatigue

• Fatigue is one of the big three killers on NSW roads.
• Fatigue-related crashes are twice as likely to be fatal – drivers who are asleep can’t brake.
• In 2012 more people in NSW died in fatigue-related crashes than drink driving crashes.
• Being awake for about 17 hours has a similar effect on performance has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05.

So before you head out on any trip, think about  how tired you are, learn to recognise the early warning signs when driving and know what to do to avoid driving tired.
Watch the Don’ Trust Your Tired Self television campaign on the Transport for NSW YouTube channel.

Find out more at the NSW Centre for Road Safety.

STAGGER ON HOME

You’ve done the right thing – you’re not driving home after a night of drinking

But before you stagger home consider this: will you make it? Geared uncovers the truth about drink walking.

The problem with walking home drunk (or even a little tipsy) should be pretty obvious. Alcohol impairs your judgement – which means you can’t accurately judge the speed or distance of an oncoming car. You may think you have enough time to cross the road, but you don’t. Your balance may also be affected and alcohol can also make you sleepy, so you’re not fully alert.

Alcohol can increase your confidence and risk-taking which means you may feel more confident when it comes to crossing a busy road, and incorrectly judge the time and distance of approaching vehicles.

  • The Who?All pedestrians under the influence of alcohol are at risk. However, males account for more than 80% of alcohol-affected pedestrian fatalities and 82% of pedestrian injuries.
  • The When?The majority of alcohol-affected pedestrian casualties occur during the late evening and early morning hours, particularly on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Just over half of all alcohol affected pedestrian fatalities and 41% of all alcohol affected injuries occur at these times.
  • The Where?The majority of alcohol affected pedestrian fatalities occur within the metropolitan area. However, alcohol affected pedestrian casualties are over-represented in non metropolitan areas as well.

What’s the plan?

Always plan ahead.

Leave your car at home and before you head out for the night, plan how you’re getting back home.

You can do this by:

  • Finding out whether your local area has an ‘alternative transport’ option (it’s generally free or a gold coin donation) – lots of councils have a late night bus for people who have been out drinking.
  • Checking out the public transport timetable to see what time the trains or buses are running. Even if the bus won’t take you all the way home, you can still catch it as far as possible then walk the rest of the way – this minimises the distance you’re walking.
  • Pre-booking a cab or maybe carry a cab charge so that you can get a taxi.
  • Organising a lift with a friend who isn’t drinking.
  • Organising to stay at a mate’s place.

Remember when you’re out, always use pedestrian crossings where they are available and try to cross the road in a well lit area.

Alternative transport

Many local areas have a night bus service (free or a gold coin donation) to get you home safety.

These services are run and funded by various local groups such as Liquor Accords, licensed venues and councils, to stop people drink driving and drink walking. Roads and Maritime Services also provide some funding towards the promotion of these schemes.

Alternative transport schemes run across NSW in some areas including Port Stephens, the Central Coast, Newcastle, Maitland, Wollongong, Nowra, Bega, Kiama, Batemans Bay, Sutherland Shire, Manly, Randwick, the Northern Beaches, Huskisson and Ulladulla, as well as in Jindabyne during the snow season.

Many of these services are seasonal or event based, running only for events like New Years Eve. Check with your local licensed venue, or contact your local council to find out what’s available in your area. For southern region areas see the Night Bus website for routes and timetable information.

Watch out for pedestrians

If you happen to be driving around areas where there are pubs, clubs and restaurants at peak times such as Friday or Saturday nights, make sure you take extra care, look out for people crossing the road, and be prepared to stop.

DEMERIT POINTS FOR LEARNER DRIVERS

DEMERIT POINTS FOR LEARNER DRIVERS
DEMERIT POINTS FOR LEARNER DRIVERS
Special conditions are in place for learner drivers to help keep you and others safe on the road

We all know that the majority of drivers (including learners) are able to drive safely and in accordance with the law – but the stats show that drivers under the age of 20 continue to be over-represented in road crashes.

To encourage safe driving among drivers who are under the age of 20, certain restrictions are in place for learner drivers.

One of the restrictions for learner drivers is adhere to a maximum speed limit of 90km/h. View all special rules that apply to learner drivers on the Getting your learner licence page.

As well as the special rules, it’s important that you understand how the demerit points scheme works and the restrictions that apply to your L plate status – after all, you’ll want to make sure you keep hold of your licence and become a safe and responsible driver.

How does the learner drivers demerit point system work?

  • If a learner licence holder incurs 4 or more demerit points within a three-year period, the licence will be suspended, or a licence application or renewal refused, for a period of three months.
  • A minimum of 4 demerit points will be imposed on a learner driver for committing a speeding offence.
  • This means a learner licence will be suspended or refused for three months for any speeding offence.

Learner drivers can also lose their licence for higher levels of speeding

  • An additional three-month suspension will apply for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km/h.
  • A six-month suspension applies for speeding more than 45km/h.
  • Police can also suspend and confiscate learner licenses at the roadside for speeding more than 30 km/h over the limit or if caught driving without a supervisor.

A learner driver does have the right to appeal a decision to suspend or refuse a licence under the demerit points or excessive speed schemes.

Heavy penalties, including a jail sentence and disqualification from driving, may be imposed by a court if a learner driver is convicted of driving while their licence is suspended or refused.

For more information, including a full list of the offences which attract demerit points, visit the Demerit points page or phone 13 22 13.

Speed limits

Slowing down saves lives

Speed is the biggest single danger on NSW roads, contributing to about 40 per cent of road fatalities each year. International and Australian research shows that even small reductions in vehicle speed can reduce the number of deaths and the severity of injuries caused by crashes. A small decrease in vehicle speed can make a big difference to your chances of survival.

If a car hits a pedestrian at 50 km/h the pedestrian is twice as likely to die than if the driver had been travelling at 40 km/h. For every extra kilometre per hour of speed:

  • The stopping distance increases
  • The time to react and avoid a crash decreases
  • The impact of a crash is more severe on the vehicle, driver, passengers and pedestrians
  • There is more likelihood of serious injury or death

To help reduce the road toll, we develop strategies to set safe speed limits, including speed zone reviews for the top 100 roads.

On the Safer Roads NSW website, you can sign up for regular email updates on speed zone changes in your area.

Slowing down saves lives
Slowing down saves lives

Slow down for flashing lights

1. Why has this new rule being introduced?

This rule was introduced to improve the safety of police and emergency workers, as well as the people they are protecting. The new rule provides certainty for motorists about how they should behave when emergency vehicles are stationary on the road and displaying blue or red flashing lights.

2. What are the key features of the new rule?

The new rule requires that motorists must not exceed 40km/h when passing a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing blue or red lights. Motorists must also give way to any person on foot near an emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights and not increase speed until a sufficient distance past the vehicle.

The new road rule will not apply when an emergency vehicle displaying blue or red flashing lights is on the opposite side of a road separated by a median strip.

3. How should I slow down safely to comply with the new road rule on a high speed road?

Motorists should always start slowing down in a controlled manner as soon as they first see blue or red flashing lights, taking into account the current road conditions including surrounding vehicles.

If an emergency vehicle is attending an incident in an area of low visibility, due to the location or weather conditions, it will be because there are no other options to move to a safer location. Further care should be taken in these circumstances.

The traffic and safety impacts of the rule will be monitored during the first 12 months and the implementation of the rule will be independently evaluated.

4. Why do motorists need to slow down to 40km/h?

40km/h is considered a safe speed around vulnerable road users. This speed is consistent with speed limits in:

5. What is considered a sufficient distance past the vehicle?

The new rule will require that motorists do not increase their speed until a sufficient distance past the emergency vehicle so as not to cause a danger to any person near the vehicle.

For example, a fire truck may be stationed by the roadside with flashing lights and firefighters may be managing a fire a short distance away from the vehicle. In this instance, motorists should not increase their speed until they are fully past the vehicle and the emergency workers. In contrast, motorists will be required to slow down to 40km/h for a shorter distance when passing a police vehicle that has pulled over another vehicle on the side of the road.

It is the responsibility of all drivers to be aware of the individual circumstances of each roadside incident and to drive at a safe and appropriate speed under the speed limit.

6. Does the new rule apply on all road types?

Yes, it applies to all roads, including motorways, highways and freeways. If there is a median strip between your vehicle and the stationary emergency vehicle you will not need to slow down. If the emergency vehicle is on the median strip then the rule will apply to vehicles on both sides of the road.

7. What is a median strip?

A median strip is an area or structure that separates vehicles travelling in opposite directions. A median strip can be covered in grass, it can include or be a wire rope or concrete barrier or be a continuous painted island filled with diagonal bars.

A median strip does not include double white lines, a single white line or a broken white line on its own or in combination with a continuous white line. It also does not include wide centre lines or short painted islands typically found as part of intersection turning lanes.

8. What types of vehicles are covered by the new rule?

Motorists must slow down to 40km/h when passing the following emergency vehicles when stationary and displaying flashing blue or red lights:

  • NSW Police Force vehicles
  • Ambulance Service of NSW vehicles
  • Fire & Rescue NSW vehicles
  • State Emergency Service vehicles
  • Rural Fire Service vehicles
  • Volunteer Rescue Association vehicles
  • Traffic Emergency Response vehicles

9. What is the penalty for not obeying this new road rule?

A $448 fine and three demerit points will apply for motorists who do not comply with the new road rule. A maximum court penalty of $2,200 will also apply. This is comparable with the current penalty when it is determined that a motorist has driven negligently in the presence of obstructions or hazards, including stopped emergency vehicles and personnel.

10. What is the government doing to educate motorists about the new rule?

Transport for NSW, with the support of emergency service agencies and other stakeholders, launched a community education campaign across NSW on 30 July 2018 to give the community time to understand the requirements of the rule. The campaign includes TV and radio advertising, social media promotion and digital signage on major roads.

11. Don’t motorists already slow down if they see a vehicle with flashing lights ahead?

The new rule establishes a required standard for safe behaviour and further ensures  emergency workers can do their work without worrying about being struck by a passing vehicle. The rule has been designed to provide maximum safety benefits to emergency workers while keeping it simple for the community to understand.

12. Why is there a 12 month trial?

This will allow an evaluation of the safety impacts and any other consequences of the new rule, and enable consideration of reviews and outcomes from other jurisdictions implementing similar rules.

13. How will the new rule be evaluated?

The NSW Government will monitor the safety and traffic impacts of the rule in the 12 months the trial is running, in consultation with key stakeholders, as part of an independent evaluation to determine the impact on the safety of emergency service workers and drivers.

In addition to the safety impacts of the new rule, the evaluation will look at what impact the trial has had on driver awareness of the law and community attitudes, as well as any unintended consequences. It will also consider reviews and outcomes from other jurisdictions implementing similar rules.

14. Who will lead the evaluation?

The evaluation will be led by Transport for NSW in close consultation with NSW Police, emergency service organisations and stakeholder groups. The findings of the evaluation will inform the Government’s consideration about what if any further changes should be made to the rule and how its implementation could be improved to better achieve road safety outcomes, including whether it should apply to drivers when passing other vehicles which display flashing lights, such as tow trucks and motor breakdown service vehicles.

Get your hand off it

Are you driving blind?

Research shows that being distracted when driving, such as by a mobile phone, increases the risk of a crash. Simply taking your eyes off the road for longer than two seconds, doubles the risk of a crash. At 60 km/h if you look at your phone while driving for just two seconds, you travel 33 metres blind. A short lapse of concentration can have lifelong consequences.

See how far you travel at different speeds when you take your eyes off the road for just two seconds:

Travel speed Metres travelled in 2 seconds
40 km/h 22.22
50 km/h 27.78
60 km/h 33.33
80 km/h 44.44
100 km/h 55.56

Overview

Our original Get your hand off it campaign has evolved to highlight the serious consequences of using your mobile phone illegally while driving, which could cost you or those you care about everything.

We have adapted the successful ‘Are you driving blind?’ mobile phone distraction campaign launched by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads in March, 2015.

The campaign also encourages drivers to know the rules about mobile phone use.

Dangerous problem

Crash data from 2010 to 2014 showed there were 236 crashes where hand-held mobile phone use by drivers was identified as a contributing factor. This included seven fatal crashes and 116 injury crashes. These crash numbers are considered to be under-reported because of the difficulty of finding evidence of illegal mobile phone use at crash scenes. This suggests the size of the problem could be much greater.

From July 2014 to June 2015, more than 35,300 fines were issued to drivers in NSW for using hand-held mobile phones, showing the problem is still prevalent.

Audience

Primary: Males and females aged 17-39 years. Secondary: All NSW drivers.

Research shows that males and females aged 17-39 years have the highest rate of claimed use while driving, and the greatest involvement in crashes where hand-held mobile phone use is a factor.

Main messages

  • It’s not worth it. Get your hand off it
  • At 60 km/h if you look at your phone while driving for just two seconds, you travel 33 metres blind

Slow Down

Your speed decides the outcome. Slow down.

Overview

In 2015, 146 people died in crashes involving speeding, either travelling above the speed limit or too fast for the conditions. Thousands were injured, and will carry their injuries for life.

When the unexpected happens on the road – the speed that you’re travelling at matters. ‘Just a bit over’ can be the difference between being able to stop in time or not at all. If the worst happens and there is a crash, any extra speed means extra impact force – and the human body can only tolerate so much before death or serious injury is all but inevitable.

We know that many drivers feel that it’s sometimes ok to speed because they’re an experienced driver, and they feel in control. But this ignores that there are factors outside our control when driving.

The ‘Slow Down’ campaign encourages drivers to reduce their speed because it’s difficult to know what is up ahead.

We all need to be compliant and responsible when on the road, but all road users can make mistakes. A mistake should never cost someone their life or their long term well-being.

Audience

The campaign targets males aged 17 to 49, who are most frequently involved in speeding crashes.

Main messages

  • Your choice of speed can affect others as well as yourself
  • Slow down to reduce the risk or severity of a crash
  • When speeding, there is less opportunity to react if other people make mistakes

40km/h around stopped emergency vehicles

A new road rule is now in place in NSW to improve the safety of emergency workers, as well as the people they are protecting

The new rule requires motorists to slow down to 40km/h when passing a stationary emergency vehicle displaying blue or red flashing lights.

The rule also requires motorists to give way to any person on foot in the immediate area of the emergency vehicle. Motorists should not increase their speed until they are a safe distance past the vehicle.

The NSW Government will monitor the safety and traffic impacts of the rule during a 12-month trial period in consultation with NSW Police, emergency service organisations and other stakeholders.

 

Key messages of the campaign

  • For everyone’s safety, motorists must slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles displaying blue or red flashing lights
  • The rule applies to vehicles travelling in both directions, unless the road is divided by a median strip
  • Motorists who do not comply with the rule will face a $448 fine and three demerit points.

Police, firefighters, ambulance officers, State Emergency Service and rescue volunteers perform difficult and dangerous work for the community. But just like everyone doing their job, they should feel safe and know that they are protected at work.

Cameron, after 3 times trying to pass the test…

Cameron, after 3 times trying to pass the test, 1 lesson with you made all the difference.

You made things so easy to understand and 2 days later Jacob got his P’s.

He also said how comfortable and confident you made him feel.

I would highly recommend anyone to have lessons with Cameron prior to attempting their P’s test.

Thanks Tanya W………