12 days of double demerits in NSW, ACT

DOUBLE demerit points will be enforced across New South Wales and the ACT for 12 days over the Christmas and New Year period, with police warning drivers to expect a strong, high-visibility presence on regional roads.

The annual road safety blitz begins at 12.01am on Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24, 2025) and will remain in place until 11.59pm on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Police will be out in force across the Riverina and surrounding regions, targeting dangerous driving behaviours.

Under the scheme, drivers in NSW will receive double demerit points for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences, while ACT drivers will face double demerits for all traffic offences during the enforcement period.

The double demerit system was first introduced in 1997 and has been credited with reducing casualty crashes during holiday periods by as much as 30 per cent, according to road safety authorities.

Police say the Christmas–New Year period remains one of the deadliest times on the road network due to increased traffic volumes, long-distance travel, fatigue and risky driving behaviour.

Motorists are being urged to slow down, buckle up, put their phones away and plan ahead to ensure everyone reaches their destination safely.