Motorists who speed could find themselves without a licence this summer with double demerit points now in force.
They came into effect at midnight in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.
With school now finished for the year, police will be out in force trying to catching speeding motorists heading away for the Christmas break.
New South Wales
Australia’s most populated state is home to the Pacific Highway, where thousands of cars leave Sydney bound for beaches – from the Central Coast to Byron Bay and Tweed Heads on the Far North Coast.
Drivers caught speeding from today until New Year’s Day have a greater chance of losing their licence.
Going 20km/h or more over the limit normally incurs four demerit points.
But during the next 12 days, this offence will be worth of eight demerit points.
Being caught more than once, by a speed camera, on a long-distance drive would be enough for someone to lose their licence for three months.
NSW motorists are taken off the road if they incur 13 demerit points or more.
Double demerits also apply for failing to wear a seat belt, not wearing motorcycle helmets and using mobile phones behind the wheel.
Double demerits in New South Wales and the ACT start on Friday December 20 and run through to New Year’s Day (inclusive)
Drivers caught using their phones during a double demerit period can expect to be hit with the fine as well as up to 10 demerits.
Even though school finished on Wednesday, school zones will still apply today.
Australian Capital Territory
The nation’s capital has the same double demerits regime as NSW.
All speed, seatbelt and mobile phone offences will incur double demerit points, while all other traffic infringements will incur one additional demerit point.
The maximum amount of demerit points a driver can rack up before their licence will be suspended is 11.
P plates drivers will lose their licence for three months if they receive four or more demerit points.
Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania don’t have double demerits, but when driving in other states motorists are subject to other states and territory’s demerit system
Western Australia
Western Australia is far stricter than NSW and the ACT, and their double demerit Christmas period is even longer; stretching from today until January 5.
Offences include drink or drug driving, speeding, running a red light, failing to wear a seatbelt or child restraint and using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
Motorists who drive in a manner that is designed to evade speed camera detection will land them in hot water with police.
Similarly to the ACT and NSW, drivers with their full licence can rack up 11 demerit points before being disqualified.
If a driver accumulates 12 to 15 points, they will lose their licence for three months, and receive 16 to 19 demerit points that will see drivers banned for four months, while 20 or more points will incur a five month ban.
The maximum amount of demerit points a driver can rack up in NSW, the ACT and WA before their licence will be suspended is 11
Queensland
Rather than having a double demerits season, the Sunshine State has its own system for repeat offenders.
Double demerits are handed out to drivers who commit an offence in the same group of offences more than once within a 12-month period.
This means double demerit points are given to the second or any subsequent offence for seatbelts, mobile phones and motorbike helmet offences, and speeding more than 21km/h over the speed limit, that occur within one year of a previous offence.
For example, if a person commits a speeding offence of driving at 21 km/h over the speed limit, they will be allocated four demerit points for that offence.
If they commit a second speeding offence of driving at 21 km/h over the speed limit within one year, they will be allocated four demerit points for the second offence and a further four demerit points for being within a one year period and this will result in a driver licence sanction.
Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania don’t have double demerits
Victorian drivers don’t face double demerits over the festive season, but they only need to accumulate 10 demerit points to lose their licence.
South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have the same rules, compared the the other states’ limit of 11 points.
But if travelling interstate this Christmas holiday period, drivers from these states and territories need to follow the rules of other state’s demerit laws.
Victorian drivers don’t face double demerits over the festive season, but they only need to accumulate 10 demerit points to lose their licence