More than one million New South Wales drivers are now seeing the benefit of safe driving, with a demerit point removed from their licence under the state's Demerit Point Trial Scheme.
Dylan Anderson
Overview of the Scheme
The 12-month trial, which ran from 17 January 2023 to 16 January 2024, allowed unrestricted licence holders with active demerit points to have one point erased if they remained offence-free throughout the trial period. As of April 2025, demerit point removal is being processed for over 1.1 million motorists.
The trial was extended for a further two years and will now continue until 31 January 2026. This provides eligible drivers with two more chances to benefit from the program if they maintain an offence-free record.
Who is Eligible?
The trial applies to unrestricted NSW licence holders with active demerit points, including professional drivers. Learner and provisional drivers are not included in the scheme.
To qualify, drivers must not commit any traffic offences during the 12-month assessment period. The current trial period runs from 17 January 2024 to 16 January 2025, and the following period will end on 31 January 2026.
Suburb Breakdown: Where Points Were Wiped
Western Sydney and regional NSW areas were among the biggest beneficiaries. Some of the top suburbs for demerit point removal include:
- Blacktown: 6093 points
- Castle Hill: 5160 points
- Merrylands: 4864 points
- Auburn: 4785 points
- Orange: 4525 points
- Dubbo: 4506 points
- Port Macquarie: 4438 points
- Ryde: 4422 points
In total, more than 420,000 drivers have had a demerit point removed for two consecutive years.
Dylan Anderson
Program Updates
The NSW Government has made a slight adjustment to the program timeline. From 2026, the final month of the trial will extend through to 31 January, rather than concluding mid-month. This aims to reduce risky driving during the holiday season, historically linked to increased road trauma.
Additional Road Safety Initiatives in 2024 and 2025
Alongside the demerit point trial, the NSW Government has introduced or expanded several road safety initiatives:
- Average speed camera trial for light vehicles
- 2700 new locations for mobile speed camera deployments (enforcement hours unchanged)
- Seatbelt enforcement through existing mobile phone detection cameras
- New rules requiring foreign licence holders to convert to NSW licences within six months
- Implementation of Demerit Point Integrity Taskforce recommendations
- Expanded star rating system for bicycle helmets
- Signed National Road Safety Data Agreement with the Commonwealth
These measures complement the demerit point incentive scheme, reinforcing the state’s focus on road safety and behaviour change.
Processing and Further Information
Eligible drivers from the most recent trial will see changes to their licence records from the second quarter of 2025. For more information on eligibility and updates, visit the Transport for NSW Demerit Point Trial Scheme page.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. For the most current and accurate information, visit official government sources or consult relevant authorities.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
