NSW Labor will introduce demerit incentives during a twelve month trial to reward safe driving.
 
Drivers who remain infringement-free during the trial period will be rewarded with the removal of a demerit point, under a proposal by NSW Labor.
 
The proposal is a way to give something back to NSW drivers after the Government removed speed camera warning signs, resulting in more than 621,000 people being fined $81.6 million for low rang speeding offences since the changes were made in November 2020.  
  
A combination of the existing demerits for traffic infractions as well as the new incentive of having a demerit point removed for drivers who are infringement free, will improve safety on our roads.
 
Currently, drivers must wait three years from the time of incurring their demerit point for the point to be removed.
 
This proposal comes as the NSW Liberals and Nationals mobile speed camera program has descended into chaos, with three quarters of the mobile speed camera cars sidelined while they await a refit to accommodate new warning signs, which were too big for some of the vehicles.
 
The latest data shows the removal of warning signs by the NSW Liberals and Nationals saw revenue jump from $4 million in 2020 to $41 million in 2021 and $40 million in 2022 for low range speeding offences.
 
NSW motorists have reported speed cameras being placed at the bottom of hills, or where roads transition from a higher speed limit to a lower one, in a scheme to unfairly catch out drivers as a means of revenue raising not protecting road safety.
 
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
 
“One death on our roads is one death too many. But after a number of deaths already recorded this holiday period, we need a new approach. 
 
“NSW Labor will provide positive incentives to motorists to do the right thing and drive safely.
 
“It’s time we put safety back at the centre of our road rules, not revenue raising.
 
“Under the Labor the rules are simple – drive safely, get a point back.”
 
Quotes attributable to John Graham, NSW Shadow Minister for Roads:
 
“It is time to use the carrot, as well as the stick, when it comes to speeding.
 
“So many NSW motorists were hit by the NSW Liberals’ hidden speed camera scheme.
 
“Some motorists told me they had never received a traffic infringement until the NSW Liberals’ hidden speed camera scheme.
 
“That approach hasn’t delivered results as the community saw it as revenue raising.”

CHRIS MINNS
NSW LABOR LEADER
 
JOHN GRAHAM MLC
NSW DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR ROADS