When double demerits come into effect in your state this Christmas

Christmas is one of the most dangerous time of the year on the roads, prompting many states to enforce double-demerit points.

The end of the year means many things: Christmas presents, sunny holidays, road trips and, for some states, double-demerit points.

The weeks surrounding Christmas and new year are some of the most dangerous on Australian roads, with a spike in fatal crashes and collisions.

A ROLLiN’ Insurance study found that the majority of respondents (94 per cent) had used their phones while driving, with one in seven drivers detected using their phones on Australian roads.

The biggest offenders are drivers from Melbourne and the ACT, with phones detected in one in six car trips, followed by Sydney and Perth, where a mobile phone is detected in one in seven car trips.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes in Australia, impairing reaction time and acting as a major distraction for the driver.

“If drivers are travelling at the average speed of 50km/h, that’s almost three car lengths each second when their eyes are on their phone,” ROLLiN’ executive manager Brendan Griffiths said.

“Where drivers have used their phones, on an average car trip of 10km, their vehicle is travelling a distance of about 400m while the driver is distracted by their phone – that’s the same as driving around an athletic track with your eyes closed.”

Double demerit points are incoming for much of the country. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

Where are double demerit points enforced?

These increased risks lead to amped-up police presence to reduce the risk of incidents, such as enforcing double demerits during peak seasons.

Double-demerit points aren’t blanket-applied to every state in the country, with some jurisdictions removing the hefty fines altogether.

However, many states across Australia will slap drivers with double-demerit points if they commit a traffic offence, such as speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, using your phone while driving or running a red light.

Double demerit blitzes usually begin shortly before a public holiday or long weekend, and this year is no different.

Here’s when double-demerit points take effect in your state.

Drivers will be hit with double demerits in some states across Australia in the Christmas-new year period. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard

NSW

Double-demerit points come into effect on Friday, December 20 and will end on Wednesday, January 1 2025.

Drivers on the roads in NSW may face double demerit points for:

• Speeding

• Illegal use of mobile phones

• Not wearing a seatbelt

• Riding without a helmet

Drivers caught using their phones on the road during a double-demerit blitz may cop a $410 fine – $544 in school zones – and 10 demerit points.

The double-demerit point scheme will return for Australia Day, starting from Friday, January 24 and ending on Monday, January 27.

You’ll pay a big price for a traffic offence. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard

Western Australia
Just like NSW, Western Australia will slap drivers with double-demerit points starting on Friday, December 20 and ending on Sunday, January 5.

WA’s double demerits may be applied for drivers who commit the following offences:

• Drink or drug driving

• Speeding

• Not wearing a seatbelt

• Illegal use of mobile phones

• Running a red light

• Driving a vehicle fitted with a speed camera evading device

• Driving in a manner to evade detection of a speed camera

The double-demerit point scheme will return for Australia Day, starting from Friday, January 24 and ending on Monday, January 27.

ACT
Another state doubling demerits over the Christmas break is the ACT, which follows the same rules as NSW, starting from Friday, December, 20 and ending on Wednesday, January 1.

For all other traffic offences, such as failing to keep to the left on the roads, drivers will be hit with an extra demerit point.

Queensland

Queensland, unlike the other states, does not apply double-demerit points during the Christmas period, but they’re enforced year round for some drivers.

Drivers who repeatedly commit traffic offences with be hit with double demerits for the second or subsequent offences if the later offence was committed within 12 months of an earlier offence.

Double -demerit points will be applied to drivers who commit the following:

• Speeding more than 20km/h over the limit

• Illegal use of a mobile phone

• Not wearing a seatbelt/wearing a seatbelt incorrectly

• Failing to ensure passengers under 16 are appropriately restrained

• Not wearing a motorcycle helmet

Victoria

Unlike the above states, Victoria does not enforce double demerits during public holidays – or any time of the year.

However, demerit points will still be in full force over the Christmas holidays, with an amped-up police presence watching out for:

• Speeding

• Failing to keep left

• Illegal use of mobile phones

• Driving with an unrestrained passenger

• Failure to wear a seatbelt

• Disobeying traffic lights, signs or police

Drivers will be slapped with hefty fines and double demerit points over the holidays. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard

South Australia

In South Australia, there are no double-demerit points enforced at any point of the year.

Tasmania

There are no double-demerit points enforced at any time of the year in Tasmania.

Northern Territory

Just like Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria, there are no double demerits enforced at any time of the year in the Northern Territory.

Originally published as When double demerits come into effect in your state this Christmas