1.3 million drivers in New South Wales could have a demerit point wiped

More than a million drivers are now eligible to have demerit points wiped as road deaths spark concern – here’s what you need to know.

More than one million drivers across NSW can now have a demerit point scrubbed from their licence on the provision of good driving, as the state grapples with a worrying spike in road-related deaths.

Under a trial reform of the state’s demerit point system, about 1.3 million people could have a demerit point wiped as of January 17, 2024 as long as they have maintained an offence-free record for 12 months.

The state of NSW has implemented a trial reform of the demerit point system that allows about 1.3 million full-license holders to have a demerit point wiped if they maintain a clean record for 12 months.

The demerit point return scheme only applies to full-licence holders, meaning learners and provisional licence holders will not be eligible.

Usually, drivers would have to wait three years to have a demerit point wiped from their record.

Under the scheme, Transport NSW will undertake a process to identify those eligible for removal of a demerit point.

The trial was part of one of the Minns government’s election promises and after its success, the state government has extended it for another year.

Premier Chris Minns said the incentive would encourage safer driving.

“Our message couldn’t be clearer: drive safely and you’ll get a point scrubbed from your licence,” he said.

The incentive aims to encourage safer driving and reduce the number of road-related deaths, which reached a worrying peak of 1,266 in 2023.

“The more people who qualify for a point, the safer our roads.”

At the beginning of 2023 there were 1.7 million people with demerit points on their record, and the deal was if they made it 12 months without an infringement they would get one point wiped.

Since then almost 400,000 have committed an offence that carried at least one demerit point, but 1.3 million have kept a clean record.

Tragically, a total of 1,266 people died in crashes in 2023, the highest toll since 2019.

Originally published as 1.3 million drivers in New South Wales could have a demerit point wiped