Half-price licences for law-abiding NSW drivers has been canned to pay for a program to get good drivers out of fines, the government has quietly revealed.

Under the “Fair Go for Safe Drivers Scheme”, full licenced drivers who haven’t collected a demerit point or conviction in the past five years can renew for half-price, saving up to $181.

But the scheme will end on June 30, if the coalition is re-elected, according to a statement on page 30 of the NSW half-yearly budget review.

The scheme is being replaced by a program that would allow those with five-year clean records to ask for a speeding or bus lane fine to be waived.

“This is expected to decrease revenue by $1.9 million in 2023/24, and by $5.8 million over the three years to 2025/26,” the budget papers, released on Tuesday, said.

Good drivers will be given a one-off chance to escape a fine for offences including low-range speeding, disobeying no left- or right-hand turn signs or driving in a bus lane.

Those drivers look to save up to $2200 for driving in a bus lane, $124 for speeding where the limit was exceeded by less than 10km/h and $275 for ignoring a no left- or right-hand turn sign.

P-platers who have lost their display plates will also be eligible for the scheme, Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward said in January.

Drivers will still receive a demerit point and the incentive can only be applied once every three years.

The new program was announced in January, a day after Labor unveiled its own program to wipe a demerit point for well-behaved drivers.

“Under Labor the rules are simple – drive safely, get a point back,” leader Chris Minns said at the time.

While that program does not cost the budget as fines still apply, Labor has not committed to retaining the half-price licence scheme.

– AAP

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