Double demerits now in force amid a huge crackdown on dangerous driving ahead of Anzac Day

Motorists are being warned to slow down and take care as holidaymakers hit the road in the lead up to Anzac Day on Tuesday. 

A five-day period of double demerits began in NSW and the ACT from Friday, April 21 and continue until 11.59pm on Anzac Day, April 25.

Police have warned they will be targeting speeding, mobile phone use while driving, and seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences over the holiday period. 

Last year 1,187 people were killed on the nation’s roads, up 60 from the year before, and the highest number of fatalities since 2017.

There have already been 312 deaths on Australian roads in the first three months of 2023, and police fear the number could rise further in the coming days. 

A five-day period of double demerits will begin in NSW and the ACT from midnight on Thursday, April 20 and continue through until 11.59pm on Anzac Day, April 25. Heavy traffic on Sydney’s Warringah Freeway is pictured 

New South Wales, ACT

Double demerits came into effect from Friday April 21 and continue through until 11.59pm on Anzac Day, April 25.

Under the scheme first introduced in 1997, anyone caught speeding, speaking on their mobile phone, riding without a helmet or not wearing a seatbelt will lose double the normal amount of points from their license and getting fined twice as much.

With rain forecast for many regions, drivers are also being warned to stay vigilant around flood affected areas where debris may be on the road and infrastructure such as bridges may be damaged. 

The NSW Police is using a stark warning about double demerit points (pictured) on social media

NSW Assistant Commissioner Tracey Chapman warned driver fatigue appeared to be a major factor in the 109 road deaths recorded across NSW already this year.

‘Police cannot take action against fatigue in the same way we would enforce something like speeding, so we have to rely on the public to do the right thing,’ she said.

‘We urge drivers to plan their trips carefully, take regular breaks, and never get behind the wheel if they feel too tired to drive.’

Police are very concerned not to see a repeat of the horror period Easter weekend, in which seven people NSW lost their lives in NSW.

This included four people who died in a head-on crash between two twin-cab utes south of Murrumbateman on Easter Friday.

Using a mobile phone while driving (pictured) is one of the offences that will lead to double demerits over the Anzac Day long weekend

Queensland

Queensland has a permanent double demerits system which differs from the holiday-based system in other states.

Drivers who commit repeat offences in Queensland are hit with heavier penalties.

Specifically, if a driver commits the same offence two or more times in a 12 month period, double demerit points will apply to the second and any subsequent offences.

Drivers are being warned to stay vigilant around flood affected areas. Pictured are NSW Police officers talking to drivers

Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania

Victoria, South Australia the Northern Territory and Tasmania do not have a double demerits scheme.

But police in those areas will be out in force during the holiday break.

Western Australia

WA enforces double demerit points around most holidays, but for Anzac Day this year they don’t apply.

Each state and territory will be ramping up its police presence for the busy Anzac Day break in a bid to bring down the nation’s road toll.