The Territory Government will not consider implementing double demerit points
THE NT Government will not consider implementing double demerit points as part of the Towards Zero campaign
Northern Territory
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THE NT Government will not consider implementing double demerit points as part of the Towards Zero campaign.
It comes after emergency services announced on Wednesday they would be ramping up patrols over the weekend.
Since the Towards Zero campaign was launched on March 23 two people have lost their lives on NT roads.
NT Police Acting Superintendent Drew Slape said yesterday two people were caught driving over the limit on McMillians Road.
“Before 9am a 49-year-old male returned a reading of 0.134 per cent and a 45-year-old female returned 0.063 per cent,” he said.
“Both were on their way to work and both admitted to ‘having a drink’ last night.”
Another male driver was cautioned after returning 0.043 per cent and a 45-year-old male was arrested for driving disqualified.
“This is an appalling start to our campaign,” he said.
“If you cannot take the responsibility of driving on our roads seriously, then don’t do it.
“You are not only risking your own life, you are risking the life of every road user.”
A Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics spokeswoman said NT data indicated there had not been a spike in fatalities in periods during which double demerit points had been used in other jurisdictions.
“When comparing the fatal and serious injury rate per day over a two-year period, the rate during proposed double demerit point holiday periods were 0.08 (fatal) and 1.21 (serious injury) which were less than in the non-double demerit point periods 0.13 (fatal) and 1.47 (serious injury),” she said.
“As a result, a double demerit point regimen was not a specific recommendation within the Towards Zero Road safety Action Plan.”
The spokeswoman said the Government was considering a new regimen for repeat offenders.
“This regimen will consider additional penalties for repeat drink/drug driving, seatbelt offences, speeding, mobile phone offences, driving unregistered/unlicensed and a review of the alcohol ignition lock program,” she said.
She said Towards Zero was a living document, and there was a possibility to implement double demerit points in the future if warranted.