NSW Minister announces change to demerit point scheme

[tinkerbell]

Minister for Roads Michael Daley announced the new demerit point scheme would be introduced on 1 July 2009 to make the system fairer for motorists and our roads safer for the entire community.

Mr Daley said the RTA had worked in close conjunction with the NSW Police and the State Debt Recovery Office to introduce the new system as quickly as possible.

“When I announced the new system in March of this year, I asked the RTA to make the changes to the demerit point system their number one priority,” he said.

“I’m pleased to announce today that the new demerit point will be introduced on 1 July, two months ahead of schedule.

“There is no such thing as safe speeding but I have always acknowledged that the system could be fairer for motorists who inadvertently speed by just a few kilometres over the limit.

“That’s why we’ve reduced the demerit point penalty for people caught driving up to 10kmh from three points to one.

“But the more you speed, the more harshly you will be punished and make no mistake – anyone caught doing more than 10kmh over the limit is either deliberately speeding or not paying attention and these motorists will not escape lightly.

“There is no place for these drivers on our roads and this new system makes sure that message is loud and clear,” Mr Daley said.

• 1 to 10kmh over the speed limit will attract one demerit point and an $84 fine;
• 11 to 20kmh over the speed limit will attract three demerit points and a $197 fine;
• 21 to 30kmh over the speed limit will attract four demerit points and a $338 fine;
• 31 to 45kmh will result in a three month suspension, five demerit points and a $647 fine;
• Over 45kmh will result in a six month suspension, six demerit points and a $1,744 fine.

but new laws for P platers - check them out:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregul...id=newdemerits

[Q_ball]

Gotta be on my best behaviour

[Didz]

its ok, fairly similar to vic now but in vic if ur over 25kph then its automatic 30 day suspension

[Elwood]

So glad im on my full license soon...

[freakygeek]

“There is no such thing as safe speeding but I have always acknowledged that the system could be fairer for motorists who inadvertently speed by just a few kilometres over the limit."

Clearly his comment doesn't apply to P-platers, who are obviously a menace to society when they are doing 85km/h in an 80 zone and have to cop FOUR demerit points (when they are only allowed 7 to begin with, 5 less than a fully licenced driver).

It just means that P platers now have to drive everywhere only looking at their speedo, else risk being fined and losing their licence. Sounds nice and safe. Watching the surrounding drivers and road? No... obviously the speedo is all that matters!

It just really gives me the shits that they place so much emphasis on speeding when there are clearly larger issues with regard to road safety that need to be addressed. We don't train drivers properly, we just now make Learners do 120 hours driving with their unqualified instructors (parents) - who typically fudge the logbook anyway, since 120 hours is so absurd.

Sure, I acknowledge that speeding is an issue when an appropriate speed limit is set, however, have you been out on the highway and come into some tin-pot town with 1 pub and 2 houses with a 50km/h speed limit? It is absolutely ridiculous. Where I live, there is a school zone on a 100 speed limit road, however, the school is set almost 1km from the road, the children are picked up and dropped off inside the school itself - why should there be 500m of "school zone" at two driveways to this school when there are NEVER children at the roadside? If someone were to drive through this school zone at 3:55pm on a weekday and happened to be booked they would be branded a lunatic for doing 60km/h over the speed limit and lose their licence for a minimum of 6 months, plus a $1700+ fine. Does this make any sense?

Welcome to the nanny state...

[DvS-]

“There is no such thing as safe speeding but I have always acknowledged that the system could be fairer for motorists who inadvertently speed by just a few kilometres over the limit."

Clearly his comment doesn't apply to P-platers, who are obviously a menace to society when they are doing 85km/h in an 80 zone and have to cop FOUR demerit points (when they are only allowed 7 to begin with, 5 less than a fully licenced driver).

It just means that P platers now have to drive everywhere only looking at their speedo, else risk being fined and losing their licence. Sounds nice and safe. Watching the surrounding drivers and road? No... obviously the speedo is all that matters!

It just really gives me the shits that they place so much emphasis on speeding when there are clearly larger issues with regard to road safety that need to be addressed. We don't train drivers properly, we just now make Learners do 120 hours driving with their unqualified instructors (parents) - who typically fudge the logbook anyway, since 120 hours is so absurd.

Sure, I acknowledge that speeding is an issue when an appropriate speed limit is set, however, have you been out on the highway and come into some tin-pot town with 1 pub and 2 houses with a 50km/h speed limit? It is absolutely ridiculous. Where I live, there is a school zone on a 100 speed limit road, however, the school is set almost 1km from the road, the children are picked up and dropped off inside the school itself - why should there be 500m of "school zone" at two driveways to this school when there are NEVER children at the roadside? If someone were to drive through this school zone at 3:55pm on a weekday and happened to be booked they would be branded a lunatic for doing 60km/h over the speed limit and lose their licence for a minimum of 6 months, plus a $1700+ fine. Does this make any sense?

Welcome to the nanny state...

I agree how there isnt enough driver training. They should have driver training schools.. something similar to the driver training course that some race tracks have..
Being a P plater myself. it does suck having to look at the speedo everywhere i go, and i do have to admit it could/would cause alot of accidents.

[tinkerbell]

yeah, my thoughts too...

P platers will be watching the wrong thing - not the road, but their speedometer.

they should be paying attention to what is happening outside their car, not what is happening on the dashboard!

[-Ad-]

what sucks is when in traffic, maintaining the same flow at, say 5km/h above limit, where everyone is EQUALLY guilty of speeding, the P plater will suffer substantially more than those who are unrestricted.

what happened to fair go?

not maintaining traffic flow for the sake of risking losing your license is, to me, alot more dangerous...

NSW road rules and demerit points suck.

also, this is a contradiction:

“There is no such thing as safe speeding but I have always acknowledged that the system could be fairer for motorists who inadvertently speed by just a few kilometres over the limit."

obviously not fairer to those who have to stick a P plate to their cars.. infact, quite the opposite.

removing P plates does not magically make the drive anymore better or safer; its still the same damn driver.

[ChargeR]

Wow the NSW P Plate scheme sounds pretty messed up. We should all move to Tasmania, one can get away with anything there. The roads are great too. And every point on the island is practically 2 hours or less from a race circuit. Great place .

[DvS-]

Wow the NSW P Plate scheme sounds pretty messed up. We should all move to Tasmania, one can get away with anything there. The roads are great too. And every point on the island is practically 2 hours or less from a race circuit. Great place .

touge every day!

[VTECMACHINE]

P-platers are crap... I agree with harsh rules for them. Stupid mofo's.

[tk38]

Does his point remind anyone of the clarkson's point about average speed cameras?
Where he believes that the government has calculated that OAP is going to sky rocket, so they are trying to kill everyone off.

But yeh P platers got it tough. Its slack, and maybe they should have a 1 point system, as its damn near impossible to track yours speed constantly.

The other thing is that the government is going on about "go green" and stuff. Situation: Now if we make it to the top of a hill, we want to use the prepaid miles from going up the hill on the downhill side. So you take your feet off all pedals. But that means your likely to go over the limit, which means braking to stay under. Braking is a pure waste of energy! They should bloody have an allowance for going "green"!

(Side note: but maybe they calculated these on the basis of decision/game theory?)

[DvS-]

P-platers are crap... I agree with harsh rules for them. Stupid mofo's.

man i agree some p plate drivers are hopeless.. but that doesnt mean all of them are crap drivers..

[Mashi]

man i agree some p plate drivers are hopeless.. but that doesnt mean all of them are crap drivers..

i agree. some p platers are horrible! haha
BUT then again so full licence drivers are hopeless as well!!!

[freakygeek]

also, this is a contradiction:

“There is no such thing as safe speeding but I have always acknowledged that the system could be fairer for motorists who inadvertently speed by just a few kilometres over the limit."

obviously not fairer to those who have to stick a P plate to their cars.. infact, quite the opposite.

removing P plates does not magically make the drive anymore better or safer; its still the same damn driver.

Exactly - P platers already have a 5 demerit point disadvantage. Why make their minor speed offences 4 points as well?

I am not a P plater but if I were I would find this very hard to understand.