NRMA TO CAMPAIGN FOR FAIRER DEMERIT
SYSTEM: GRAHAM BLIGHT
Monday
11 October 2010: NRMA Motoring & Services local Director Graham Blight
said the NRMA would work for a fairer demerit system for local motorists, following
new research that found broad support for change.
An NRMA survey of almost 1,071 motorists in NSW found almost two-thirds (62%) support
reducing the amount of time demerit points are kept on a licence from three years to two and
95 per cent support reductions in the cost of licence renewals for drivers with a clean record.
The NRMA survey also found more than half (53%) support increasing the number of demerit
points on a full NSW licence from 12 to 13.
In addition to these improvements the NRMA is also calling on the NSW Government to
consider a system currently in place overseas, whereby drivers booked for a low-range traffic
offence can forgo the fine and demerit points if they attend a one-day driver training course at
their own expense.
Each motorist will be given this option once every three years.
Mr Blight said motorists in western NSW would often raise their frustration about the current
demerit system.
“The overwhelming majority of motorists are responsible drivers,” Mr Blight said.
“Nobody condones bad driver behavior.
“But over the last 40 years the policing methods on our roads have expanded considerably
with mobile speed cameras and safety cameras introduced only this year.
“By adopting the proposals put by the NRMA the NSW Government can make life a little
easier and fairer for motorists while ensuring a demerit system that punishes bad behavior,
especially for repeat offenders.”
The NRMA survey found 23 per cent of motorists had received a traffic infringement over the
last two years. The survey also found:
-
Almost 40 per cent (39%) were unaware that a full licence had 12 demerit points
-
Almost 10 per cent (7%) had been booked during a double demerit period
-
More than one-third (35%) were unaware that safety cameras operate in NSW
“Most drivers are decent, law abiding citizens and to expect all motorists to go through their
driving lives without ever making a mistake is unrealistic,” Mr Blight said.
“Now is the ideal time to make the demerit system work better for all road users.”
Contact: Lisa Kable 0439 133 113
NEWS 
