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When and where do double demerits apply in Australia for Anzac Day?

Anzac Day is not far away, and in some states that means double demerits will come into effect in an attempt to ward off unsafe driving around the public holiday.

However, not all jurisdictions in Australia have the same approach to double demerits; many areas never introduce them for public holidays, while one state that usually does won't have them in place on April 25.

Here's everything you need to know about double demerits this Anzac Day.

READ MORE: Your complete guide to Anzac Day services around the country

The Easter long-weekend rush home has begin, with major traffic headaches across multiple states.

New South Wales and ACT

NSW introduced double demerits for public holidays back in 1997, and the scheme will be in effect for five days for Anzac Day.

Double demerits in NSW and the ACT run from 12.01am on Friday, April 21, until midnight on Tuesday, April 25, the extended period targeting people who take the Monday off to give themselves a long weekend.

All traffic offences in NSW will incur double the usual demerit points, but the ACT is slightly different – most offences like speeding and drink driving cop the double penalty, but some comparatively minor ones, like failing to keep left, just attract a single extra point instead.

READ MORE: Do you get an Anzac Day public holiday this year?

Western Australia

Western Australia, like the ACT and NSW, usually has double demerits in place for public holidays.

However, for Anzac Day this year, they don't apply.

They will, however, be back in place for public holidays later in the year, including the King's Birthday and Christmas.

READ MORE: What is the Indigenous Voice to parliament and what would a referendum entail?

The Anzac Day Dawn Service is happening at Kings Park in Perth with around 300 people in attendance at the invite-only event.

Queensland

Queensland approaches double demerits quite differently to NSW, WA, and the ACT.

Rather than having them in place for all drivers around public holidays, the Sunshine State instead has them in effect year-round, but only for drivers who commit the same offence twice in the space of 12 months.

This applies for speeding more than 20km/h over the limit, as well as mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences.

Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory

None of Victoria, SA, Tasmania and the NT employ double demerits as part of their road safety strategies.

That means penalties for driving offences committed around Anzac Day in those jurisdictions will be the same as for those committed at any other time of the year.

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