Here’s your friendly reminder that double demerits are in place for 17 days from midnight tonight

The WA Government has urged drivers to make safety a priority this festive season as double demerit points come into effect from midnight tonight.

It will remain in effect until midnight on Monday 8 January.

“While double demerits aim to encourage safe driving, they should not be a key motivator for driver behaviour,” said Road Safety Minister David Michael.

“As a driver, your key mission is to keep yourself, your family and other road users safe.”

Over the next two-and-a-bitweeks, the following traffic offences are subject to double demerits:

• speeding;
• drink or drug driving;
• failing to wear a seatbelt or child restraint;
• running a red light;
• illegal use of a mobile phone while driving;
• driving a vehicle fitted with a radar detector; and
• driving a vehicle in a manner to evade detection by a speed camera.

So far there have been 148 fatalities on WA roads in 2023, with a 76 regional/72 metro split.

“There is no question that speed is the number one issue as far as road safety is concerned. It is a simple matter of physics,” added Michael.

“If you are going faster, you are more likely to be involved in a crash, and if you are involved in a crash, then the faster you are going means that you and your passengers are more likely to die or be severely injured…

“Remember no one plans a crash – drive within the limits, travel safe and make it a happy festive season.”