Double demerits reminder – WA Day weekend

Note: Double demerit penalties for the WA Day long weekend apply from Friday 30 May to Monday 2 June 2014 inclusive.

The double demerits system in Western Australia has been operating since 2002 with the core objective to reduce the number of road crashes on the State’s roads contributing to significant road trauma during a defined double demerits period.

As the WA Day long weekend approaches, double demerit penalties will once again be enforced on WA motorists engaging in dangerous activities while driving.

In a joint effort across all Road Safety Council contributing agencies, the focus for this long weekend will be on the risks of inattention on the roads. This is part of a month-long series of road safety messages rallied by the Road Safety Council Chair, Professor Murray Lampard.

It is estimated that inattention and distraction are factors in about one third of fatal and serious crashes in the State, demonstrating that it is a significant contributing factor to WA’s road trauma alongside speeding and drink driving.

While inattention may be difficult to detect, WA Police will be increasingly focused on driver or rider inattention through the double demerits period.

This WA Day long weekend, the following offences will be subject to double demerit penalties:

• Speeding;
• Drink and/or drug driving;
• Failing to wear a seat belt and/or child restraint;
• Running a red light; and
• Illegal use of a mobile phone while driving.

WA Police will be enforcing the laws on the roads across the state this long weekend to help stop risk taking behaviour and to protect the majority of the community who do the right thing on our roads.

More information on double demerits is available on the Road Rules & Penalties

Recent changes to the Double Demerits legislation in 2014 can be accessed here.

The latest double demerits evaluation report is also available here.
source : http://www.ors.wa.gov.au/media-hub/Media/2014/Double-demerits-reminder-WA-Day-weekend