Western Australia - Road Traffic Laws
Demerit point hotline
-
1300 720 111
- You will require drivers licence number and date of birth
- Also give infringement details and dates - COOL!!!
Road Rule Changes
Road Safety Law Changes
Click through the following links for more information about changes to the Road Traffic Code 2000 and Road Traffic Act 1974.
Drink and drug driving penalties - effective 1 October 2011
Mobile phones and visual display units whilst driving - effective 1 March 2011
Child car restraints requirements - effective 1 October 2010
Seat belts requirements - effective 1 October 2010
Updates Office of Road Safety
Learn how to Merge!
Merging traffic - Street Smarts advertisement - April 2011 (1 page PDF 126 KB)
This Tip May Save Your Life
Especially if you own a car that is dark in colour like gun metal grey.
Daytime running lights - Street Smarts advertisement - November 2010 (1 page PDF 124 KB)
Fog Lights are illegal Dude!
What's with driving around at night with 4 x headlights on? It makes speed assessment difficult when you expect to see 2 x headlights. It makes motorcycle riders less safe because people don't associate extra lights with bikes! Turn them off !!!
Fog Lights - Street Smarts advertisement - November 2011 (1 page PDF 124 KB)
Road Rules & Penalties
Road Rules & Penalties
Drive Safe - Appendix 3: Penalties for traffic offences
Western Australian Road Laws & Procedure
| ROAD TRAFFIC CODE 2000 |
| ROAD TRAFFIC (URINE SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS) REGULATIONS 1983 |
Index
Legislation
The following links are to the State Law Publisher website.
Not Proclaimed
The following links are to the State Law Publisher website.
 State Law Publisher - Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008 |
|
|
State Law Publisher - Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Act 2008 |
|
Subsidiary Legislation
The following links are to the State Law Publisher website.
Car & Licence Checks
Check - Am I Under Suspension?
WA - Check Your Licence Supension online
Free Online Checks
Law FAQ's
Need your licence for work?
Going to loose your licence due to points or disqualification? Apply for an Extraordinary Motor Driver's Licence
What is a demerit point suspension?
For some traffic offences, together with a fine you may receive demerit points.
If you accumulate a total of 12 or more demerit points within any 3 year period, a demerit point suspension can be imposed on you, which means you are not allowed to drive for a certain period. This period depends on how many points you have accumulated. For less than 16 points you will receive 3 months suspension, for 16 to less than 20 points you will receive 4 months suspension and for 20 points or more you will receive 5 months suspension.
Is there any way of avoiding a demerit point suspension?
Yes, there is a process called “double or nothing” that allows you to avoid losing your licence when you reach 12 points or more.
For more information see this fact sheet from the Department of Transport website: Double or Nothing Fact Sheet.
How does the “double or nothing” process work?
This process allows you to elect to be of good behaviour for a period of 12 months and if you succeed, you will not lose your licence.
What does “good behaviour” mean?
Being of good behaviour means that during the 12 month period you must not:
- accumulate more than one demerit point; or
- commit an offence which results in disqualification.
Is there a time limit for electing “double or nothing”?
Yes, you must make the election within 21 days from the date you were given the demerit point suspension notice.
What do I do if I want to elect “double or nothing”?
You need to submit a Good Behaviour Period election form to the Director General for Transport within 21 days.
Election forms are available from any Licensing Centre, regional licensing agent or online through the Department of Transport website.
You must submit the form at any Licensing Centre, regional licensing agent, through the Department of Transport website (see link above) or by post to PO Box 8090, East Perth, WA, 6892.
What happens if I breach the good behaviour period?
If you breach the good behaviour period, then your licence will be suspended for double the length of time that it would have before you made the election.
In addition, you will receive the penalty for the offence or offences which breached the good behaviour period, which may include an extra period of licence suspension.
What happens after the period of suspension ends?
At the end of all suspension periods, your demerit point tally will go back to zero.
If I am a p-plater can I elect “double or nothing”?
No, you cannot elect to follow this process if you are a provisional licence holder (“p-plater”).
As a p-plater, if you receive a demerit point suspension notice, your licence is automatically cancelled. This means that you must not only wait for the period of suspension to end but must also re-sit your driver’s licence test, before you can drive again.
Can I apply for an extraordinary driver’s licence if I am under a demerit point suspension?
No, it is not an option for you to apply for an Extraordinary Driver’s Licence if you are under a demerit point suspension. This is the case whether the demerit point suspension was imposed immediately, or after you failed to complete the good behaviour period.
Click here for more information about Extraordinary Driver's Licence applications.
What if I don’t agree with the number of demerit points recorded against me?
If you believe a mistake has been made about the number of demerit points that should be recorded against you, then you can apply to a Magistrates Court for an order setting aside the demerit point suspension.
You must make this application within 30 days from the date of the demerit point suspension notice.
To make the application, contact the registry of the Magistrates Court closest to you. Click here for information about Magistrates Court locations.
Where can I get more information?
- For more information see this fact sheet from the Department of Transport website: Double or Nothing Fact Sheet.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT
Demerit Points P Plate & Novice Drivers
Frequently Asked Questions - Graduated demerit points
Who is a novice driver?
For the purposes of the Graduated Demerit Point system, a person is a Novice Driver until they have held a driver's licence for at least two (2) years or periods adding up to two (2) years. This may include:
- a first time learner's permit holder
- the holder of a provisional driver's licence
- a driver from overseas who has not held a driver's licence for at least two years
- the holder of an extraordinary driver's licence
There are two types of novice drivers
Novice Driver Type 1:
A person is a Novice Driver Type 1 until they have held a driver’s licence for a period of at least one year or periods adding up to one year, and includes a first time learner’s permit holder.
Up until the end of the first year of holding a licence a person will only be able to have three (3) demerit points recorded against them. If four (4) or more demerit points are recorded against a person, they will be disqualified for at least three months and any driver’s licence held will be cancelled.
Novice Driver Type 2:
A Novice Driver Type 2 is a person who has held a driver’s licence for more than one (1) year but less than two (2) years.
Up until the end of the second year of holding a driver’s licence, a person will only be able to have seven (7) demerit points recorded against them in total. If eight (8) or more demerit points are recorded against the person, they will be disqualified for at least three months and any driver’s licence held will be cancelled.
The Novice Driver concept aims to ensure that a driver gains at least two years experience before they are able to hold an unrestricted licence or what is colloquially called an ordinary or full licence.
The Graduated Demerit point system aims to reduce the crash risk of Novice drivers by limiting their driving to safer, lower risk conditions, progressively lifting these restrictions as they move through successive stages of driving and develop more experience.
How do I know which limit applies to me?
The table below shows when the different demerit point limits apply.
Remember any demerit points you get as a learner will also count towards the 4 and 8 point limits.
Online demerit point check
Demerit points are issued by the WA Police or an authorised officer for motoring offences. The points can vary anywhere from one to six points depending on the type of offence, except during long weekends and holiday seasons when the allocated demerit points for the offence will be double.
Demerit point hotline
- 1300 720 111
Related documents and quiz
The following resources are designed to explain how the Novice Driver reduced demerit point laws operate.
Please note that the quiz requires the free Adobe Flashplayer. (external link)
 Novice driver graduated demerit point guide |
85.63 KB |
 Novice driver graduated demerit point brochure |
646.31 KB |
 Novice driver graduated demerit point quiz |
153.80 KB |
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT
