Changes to road rules

From 1 January | From 1 July

Integrated Red Light and Speed Cameras

Recommendation 14 of the Safer Road Use: A Territory Imperative Report sought additional and recurrent funding for the installation of integrated red light and speed cameras, as well as an increase in traffic light infringement penalties.

Red light and speed cameras will be installed at a number of priority intersections, in the Darwin region, throughout 2008.

From 29 January 2008, infringement notices for both red light running and speeding will be issued for the integrated red light/ speed camera at the Stuart Highway/ Deviney Road intersection.

Red light running and speed are high risk behaviours – drivers will almost invariably speed through intersections when running red lights and a crash, if it occurs, will almost just as invariably result in a potentially fatal side-impact collision. Side impact collisions are the worst type of crash to be involved in resulting in horrific injuries.

Demerit Points

From 1 September 2007, a demerit points scheme will apply in the Northern Territory.

Licence holders start with zero points and licences will only be affected if 12 or more points are accumulated within three years.

The system is tougher on young drivers on Learner or Provisional plates who will be affected after five points are collected within 12 months.

Demerit points only apply to some road rules.  They target the major causes of our road toll including:

• drink driving offences;
• running red lights;
• speeding;
• disobeying signs at rail level crossings;
• failing to display L or P plates;
• not wearing seatbelts;
• using mobile phones while driving; and
• hooning.

Demerit points do not replace penalties, like fines and licence suspension, already in place for breaking the road rules.

Drivers still receive fines and the court has the power to suspend a licence for serious offences, regardless of how many demerit points someone accumulates.

Drink driving kills too many people on our roads - so the laws for drink driving are tough. A blood alcohol content (BAC) reading above 0.08 results in automatic licence disqualification. In addition to this, Police can immediately suspend a licence on the second or subsequent driving offence or for any high level offence (over 0.15 BAC).

A fine and demerit points apply where a 0.0 BAC is registered, or for a first offence of a BAC reading between 0.05–0.08. A second within 3 years, results in 3 months disqualification by the court from driving, a fine and demerit points. A third or subsequent offence within 3 years results, in 6 months disqualification by the court from driving, a fine and demerit points.

Demerit points will not impact on drivers who obey the road laws.

Road laws broken while travelling interstate will also accrue demerit points against Northern Territory licences, but only for offences that attract demerit points in the Northern Territory. The number of points issued are the same number of demerit points the offence attracts in that state or territory where the offence occurred.

The Good Driving Option

If you collect 12 or more demerit points, your licence will be suspended.

However, you will have the opportunity to keep your licence by selecting a Good Driving option. Under this option, you must drive or ride safely for 12 months and not accumulate two or more points in that period. This option gives you the opportunity to change your driving behaviour.

Link to the MVR website to view further information on Demerit Points.

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Changes to road rules - 1 July 2007

From 1 July 2007, the following changes came into effect and form part of a package to address our road culture to make our roads safer for all Territorians:

Repeat drink-driving offences – suspension of driver's licence

Traffic infringement notices for 0.00 or 0.05 - 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC) offence will be counted as a first offence for the purposes of penalty.

Where a driver has committed a second or further low level BAC offence within 3 years, drivers will be disqualified from driving for:

• 3 months disqualification for a second offence
• 6 months disqualification for a third or subsequent offence within 3 years

Improved detection of drink-driving

• Time limit on breath testing or taking blood samples increased from 2 to 4 hours
• Blood samples will be collected by a wider range of qualified persons in places other than just hospitals

Drink Driving Fact Sheet

Introduction of a Graduated Driver Licensing scheme for new drivers

L and P Plate Changes

• A six month minimum Learner licence period applies for applicants
• A two year Provisional Licence applies for all people under 25
• A one year Provisional Licence applies for people 25 years and older
• Mobile phone use, including hands free, will be banned for all L and P plate drivers

Graduated Driver Licensing Fact Sheet

Visit MVR for more information

Highway Patrol and Remote Area Traffic Patrol Units

• New units to operate out of Katherine and Alice Springs to increase enforcement on Northern Territory highways and in remote communities

Penalties

As of 1 July 2007, the penalty for failing to comply with traffic signs at rail level crossings will increase from $80 to $500.  This increased penalty recognises the often serious consequences of level crossing crashes to both the users of road and rail systems.  The decision to increase penalties follows two major level crossing crashes in the Territory late last year.

Detailed listing of the Road Safety Taskforce's recommendations and Government decisions.

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Changes to road rules - 1 January 2007

The following changes came into effect from 1 January 2007 and form part of a package to address the Northern Territory's road culture to make our roads safer for all Territorians:

Penalties

Penalties for a range of road safety related offences have been increased:

• drink driving infringement penalties for offences under 0.08 have doubled;
• speeding infringement penalties have doubled and a new infringement penalty of $500 for travelling more than 45 km/h above the speed limit has been introduced;
• seatbelt penalties have doubled;
• penalties for disobeying red traffic lights will double and penalties for disobeying yellow traffic lights have been increased; and
• penalties for not displaying an L or P plate when required have doubled.

The new penalties are set out below:

Speed Limits

• A 130 km/h speed limit will apply where signed on the Stuart, Barkly, Victoria and Arnhem Highways.
• A new default 110 km/h limit will apply on all other rural roads unless otherwise signposted.

Child Restraints

• Children under 12 months must be carried in a baby capsule or baby seat when travelling in a car.

           A Simple Guide to Child Restraints (Australian Transport Safety Bureau)

Traffic Branch

• A dedicated NT Police traffic branch known as the Northern Traffic Operations was launched on 18 December 2006.

Detailed listing of the Road Safety Taskforce's recommendations and Government decisions.

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