Over one million drivers across New South Wales have had a demerit point removed from their licence, marking the second successful year of the NSW Government’s innovative demerit point return initiative. The program, launched by the Minns Labor Government, incentivises safe driving by removing a demerit point for eligible drivers who remain offence-free for 12 months.
Dylan Anderson
A Major Milestone for Road Safety
Out of 1.48 million eligible drivers at the start of the 2025 trial period, 1,003,610 met the criteria for a demerit point removal. Notably, over 420,000 motorists have now earned point removals for two consecutive years.
Top-performing suburbs include:
| Suburb | Demerit Points Removed |
|---|---|
| Blacktown | 6,093 |
| Castle Hill | 5,160 |
| Merrylands | 4,864 |
| Auburn | 4,785 |
| Maroubra | 4,594 |
| Orange | 4,525 |
| Bankstown | 4,516 |
| Dubbo | 4,506 |
| Port Macquarie | 4,438 |
| Ryde | 4,422 |
These results highlight the success of the initiative in both metropolitan and regional areas, promoting safer driving habits across the board.
What’s Changing in 2026
To further align with high-risk travel periods, the trial period will now run until the end of January each year. This adjustment is designed to encourage safer behaviour over the summer holiday season. Updated licence records reflecting the latest round of point removals will begin rolling out from Q2 2025.
Speeding Fines Drop After Return of Warning Signs
In another boost for road safety, NSW has seen an 88% drop in speeding fines after reinstating warning signs at mobile speed camera sites. This shift has encouraged drivers to slow down, reinforcing the role of proactive measures in preventing accidents.
Dylan Anderson
New Enforcement Measures: Average Speed Cameras for All
A major new trial is underway, with average speed cameras now targeting all NSW drivers — not just heavy vehicles. This expanded use of technology on regional highways aims to curb road fatalities by detecting and penalising speeding over long distances.
A Broader Safety Agenda
The demerit point return scheme is just one part of a larger road safety push being delivered between 2024 and 2026. Key measures include:
- Trials of average speed cameras for light vehicles
- 2,700 additional mobile speed camera enforcement locations
- Mobile phone cameras used to detect seatbelt violations
- Reforms for foreign licence holders
- Implementation of the Demerit Point Integrity Taskforce recommendations
- Expanded star rating system for bicycle helmets
- Signing of the National Road Safety Data Agreement with the Commonwealth
Looking Ahead
With the third year of the program now underway, nearly 1.5 million drivers once again have the opportunity to earn a demerit point removal. The NSW Government remains committed to combining enforcement, education, and reward to make roads safer for everyone.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
