MOTORISTS are being reminded to drive safely over the King’s Birthday long weekend as double demerit points come into force.
Double demerits will be in operation from Friday 6 June until Monday 9 June (inclusive) for all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences.
School zones are in operation on Friday 6 June and additional penalties can apply for certain offences committed in school zones.
Highway Patrol Sergeant Mitchell Gage has indicated that Police will also be targeting the ‘four Ds’ of road users including drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving.
“Around 95 per cent of crashes in NSW are the result of behaviour – like driving too fast for the conditions, falling asleep behind the wheel or being impaired by drugs and/or alcohol,” he said.
“Too often we see the tragic aftermath of drivers making poor decisions. We want everyone to make it to and from their destinations safely this long weekend.”
Since their introduction in 1997, double demerit points have proven to be an effective deterrent to unsafe driving during busy holiday periods.
Research has shown that casualty crashes (where someone is killed or injured) decreased 30 per cent when double demerit points were in operation.
