Image: NSW Premier Chris Minns hopes that offering the chance to remove a demerit point will encourage drivers to be more safe. Image: Chris Minns/Facebook
By TILEAH DOBSON
A new NSW Government trial to encourage safer driving conditions could see a demerit point scrubbed off the records of more than 1.7 million drivers.
The condition is that drivers need to maintain a clean record from 17th January 2023 to 17th January 2024 to be qualified to have a demerit point removed from their license.
When it was announced during the state election, the trial was originally supposed to start on 1st July this year. However, the Minns government wants drivers who do the right thing to be able to shed the demerit point sooner.
Transport for NSW will keep a record of the demerit point register as it was on 17th January, in order to keep track of all licenses with active demerit points against them.
During the trial, drivers who have at least one recorded demerit point against them from the trial’s start date and remain offence free for 12 months will have one demerit point removed. It usually takes 3 years for one demerit point to be removed.
Those with a learner or a provisional drivers license are excluded from the trial, due to being subjected to the strict conditions of the Graduated Licensing Scheme.
Incentive for Good Behaviour
Premier Chris Minns hopes that offering the incentive of a demerit point removal will encourage safer driving.
“Reducing the road toll and rewarding safe driving across the state is the aim of this trial and we hope it gives drivers that little bit of extra incentive to achieve a spotless record,” he said.
“It’s time we put safety back at the centre of our road rules, not revenue raising. This is an appropriate way for good drivers to earn a point back.”
“Our message couldn’t be clearer: drive safely and you’ll get a point scrubbed from your licence. The more people who qualify for a point, the safer our roads.”
Minister for Roads, John Graham believes that it is now “time to try the carrot approach and reward good behaviour.”
“We need everyone to work together to create a safer driving environment and ultimately push road trauma to zero,” he said.
“The 12-month trial will be closely examined to assess its impact on road safety and the effectiveness of the demerit point changes.”
