21 March, 2024
Written by The NRMA
NSW motorists should be aware that the penalties for falling foul of the law in an active school zone during a double demerit period can be very severe.
From Thursday 28 March 2024, double demerits come into effect in NSW ahead of the Easter long weekend public holiday and will be in place until the end of Monday, 1 April. During this period, school zones will be in operation on Thursday 28 March.
What are the school zones double demerit penalties?
There are many school zone offences that attract fines and demerit points. However, only speeding and mobile phone school zone offences attract double demerits. This means that motorists who break the school zone speed limit during a double demerit period can expect the following demerit points:
- exceeding the 40km/h speed limit by less than 10km/h will draw a 4 demerit point penalty,
- by more than 10km/h is an 8 point penalty,
- by more than 20km/h is a 10 point penalty,
- by more than 30km/h is a 12 point penalty,
- by more than 45km/h is a 14 point penalty.
In regards mobile phone offences, the penalty for using a mobile phone in a school zone when not permitted during double demerits is 10 points (usually 5).
How many demerit points need to be accumulated before a licence suspension?
Should a person holding an unrestricted licence incur 13 or more demerit points in a 3-year period, their licence will be suspended. The suspension period depends on how many points have been accumulated. Suspension periods for Unrestricted Driver accumulated demerit points are:
- 13 to 15 demerit points – licence suspension for three months;
- 16 to 19 demerit points – licence suspension for four months;
- 20 or more demerit points – licence suspension for five months.
Should a Provisional P-2 licence (Green P-Plate) accumulate 7 or more demerit points their licence will be suspended for three months. Should a Provisional P-1 licence (Red P-Plate) or Learner Licence accumulate 4 or more demerit points their licence will be suspended for three months.
All drivers should know and respect the law
Therefore all drivers should be very mindful to obey the law within school zones during a double demerit period, for risk of losing their licence.
Moreover, drivers should familiarise themselves with all offences that can be penalised in a school zone, whether double demerits are in force or not, as some acts carry a heavier penalty than if they were committed elsewhere.
