In an effort to reward drivers for good behaviour, Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, announced that the government will present measures to remove demerit points from safe drivers.
In keeping with a pledge he made during the state election, the Premier outlined the strategy on Sunday.
More than 1.7 million drivers will be entitled to have a demerit point taken off their licence record as long as they stayed offense-free between January 17 of this year and the same date the following year under the terms of the programme.
The 12-month study was originally scheduled to start on July 1; however, the government moved forward the start date because it was “determined” to reward safe drivers earlier, according to a statement.
Mr. Minns claimed that the action demonstrated how “clear” his government’s position on road safety is.
It’s time to put safety, not revenue-raising, back at the forefront of our traffic laws, he said.
The purpose of this trial is to lower traffic fatalities and promote safe driving throughout the state. We anticipate that it will provide drivers with just a little bit more motivation to maintain a spotless driving record.
“This is a suitable method for good drivers to recover a point.
“Our message is crystal clear: drive safely or have a point taken off your licence. Our roadways will be safer the more persons who qualify for a point.
The new regulation is a big help for drivers wishing to get a fresh start because, up until now, demerit points would stay on a licence for three years before being removed.
Transport for NSW will create the trial group by taking a “snapshot” of the state’s demerit point register on January 17 of this year, allowing the administration to identify all holders of unrestricted and temporary licences who have points recorded against them.
Then, as a reward for their “spotless behaviour,” drivers who commit no more offences over the following six months through January 17 2024 will have one point taken off.
Drivers with learner’s permits or provisional licences will not be a part of the study because of the Graduated Licencing Scheme’s tight requirements for them.
Due to the estimated three-month processing time for adjudication of violations, eligible drivers won’t begin to notice their one point deductions until mid-April of 2019.
Before the government attempted to apply the measure permanently, NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said the trial will be “closely examined” to determine its impact.
To the benefit of all drivers, pedestrians, and communities, he said, “Drivers in NSW are very much used to the stick approach, so this demerit trial is an important carrot for them to maintain a clean record over a 12-month period.”
In order to make driving safer and eventually achieve zero road trauma, everyone must cooperate.
To evaluate the impact of the 12-month trial on traffic safety and the efficacy of the demerit point changes, the trial will be extensively scrutinised.
