{"id":1674,"date":"2026-07-02T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shopattheponds.com.au\/news\/?p=1674"},"modified":"2026-07-01T10:27:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T00:27:28","slug":"a-new-demerit-point-rule-takes-effect-across-western-australia-and-drivers-could-lose-their-licence-over-one-common-mistake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shopattheponds.com.au\/news\/a-new-demerit-point-rule-takes-effect-across-western-australia-and-drivers-could-lose-their-licence-over-one-common-mistake\/","title":{"rendered":"A new demerit point rule takes effect across Western Australia and drivers could lose their licence over one common mistake"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Western Australian motorists are waking up to a <strong>stricter<\/strong>, statewide <strong>shift<\/strong> in how demerit points are applied \u2014 and a single, all-too-common <strong>habit<\/strong> behind the wheel could suddenly tip a licence <strong>over<\/strong> the edge. The change tightens what counts as a <strong>use<\/strong> of a device and clarifies how points can <strong>stack<\/strong>, especially during peak enforcement <strong>periods<\/strong>. \u201cIf you\u2019re wondering whether a quick tap is <strong>legal<\/strong>, assume it\u2019s <strong>not<\/strong>,\u201d goes the new, no-nonsense <strong>advice<\/strong> circulating among road <strong>safety<\/strong> advocates.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>What\u2019s actually changed<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Under the refreshed <strong>settings<\/strong>, interaction with a mobile <strong>phone<\/strong> that isn\u2019t truly hands\u2011free is treated as an <strong>active<\/strong> use \u2014 even when you\u2019re <strong>stopped<\/strong> in traffic. That includes touching a <strong>screen<\/strong>, picking up a <strong>handset<\/strong>, or glancing down to <strong>scroll<\/strong> or accept a <strong>call<\/strong> when the vehicle is on the <strong>roadway<\/strong>. The emphasis is on the driver\u2019s <strong>attention<\/strong> and the act of <strong>handling<\/strong>, not on whether the car is <strong>moving<\/strong> at that instant.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Authorities have also tightened the <strong>language<\/strong> around cumulative <strong>offences<\/strong>, making it easier to issue demerit <strong>points<\/strong> for consecutive, separate <strong>interactions<\/strong> detected by officers or compliance <strong>cameras<\/strong>. \u201cThe intent is <strong>simple<\/strong>: get drivers\u2019 eyes back on the <strong>road<\/strong>, not on their <strong>phones<\/strong>,\u201d is how one senior road <strong>safety<\/strong> official has framed the <strong>shift<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>Why it matters right now<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>WA\u2019s demerit <strong>system<\/strong> sets a cap on how many points you can <strong>accumulate<\/strong> before a suspension <strong>kicks<\/strong> in. For full <strong>licences<\/strong>, the threshold is <strong>higher<\/strong> than for novice or provisional <strong>drivers<\/strong>, who face stricter <strong>limits<\/strong>. Because the updated <strong>rule<\/strong> targets behaviour that\u2019s genuinely <strong>widespread<\/strong>, a lot of otherwise careful <strong>motorists<\/strong> are suddenly at greater <strong>risk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The danger <strong>spikes<\/strong> during long weekends and <strong>holidays<\/strong>, when WA\u2019s \u201cdouble <strong>demerits<\/strong>\u201d policy can multiply the <strong>penalty<\/strong> for a single <strong>mistake<\/strong>. Two quick taps during a single <strong>journey<\/strong> \u2014 say, accepting a <strong>call<\/strong> and skipping a <strong>song<\/strong> \u2014 can stack points <strong>fast<\/strong>, especially if a special enforcement <strong>period<\/strong> is in <strong>effect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>The everyday mistake that hurts most<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The most common <strong>misstep<\/strong> is touching a mobile <strong>phone<\/strong> that\u2019s not fully hands\u2011free \u2014 even at red <strong>lights<\/strong>. Drivers often <strong>assume<\/strong> that stopping makes a <strong>difference<\/strong>. It does not. If you\u2019re on a <strong>road<\/strong>, and the engine is <strong>running<\/strong>, you\u2019re still <strong>driving<\/strong> for the purposes of this <strong>law<\/strong>. A \u201cquick <strong>check<\/strong>\u201d of a map or <strong>message<\/strong> can now be a costly <strong>slip<\/strong>, and a repeated <strong>habit<\/strong> can be licence\u2011ending.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople tell themselves, \u2018I only <strong>touched<\/strong> it for a <strong>second<\/strong>,\u2019\u201d says a veteran <strong>instructor<\/strong>. \u201cBut distraction is <strong>binary<\/strong> \u2014 your attention is either on the <strong>task<\/strong>, or it\u2019s <strong>not<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>How a licence can be lost, quickly<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how the math can turn <strong>ugly<\/strong> in a hurry:<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<ul><\/p>\n<li>One handheld phone <strong>offence<\/strong> adds a significant chunk of demerit <strong>points<\/strong>, and during double\u2011demerit <strong>periods<\/strong>, it can be <strong>multiplied<\/strong> enough to put a novice driver perilously <strong>close<\/strong> \u2014 or straight over \u2014 their allowed <strong>limit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<p>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Combine that with a recent <strong>speeding<\/strong> slip or a forgotten <strong>seatbelt<\/strong> click, and the total can tip your <strong>record<\/strong> into suspension <strong>territory<\/strong>. \u201cIt\u2019s rarely one <strong>ticket<\/strong> that takes a licence,\u201d notes a metro <strong>traffic<\/strong> officer. \u201cIt\u2019s the small, preventable <strong>habits<\/strong> that add up, and the phone is the most <strong>common<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>What you should do now<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Shift your setup to truly <strong>hands\u2011free<\/strong>. That means a fixed <strong>cradle<\/strong>, voice\u2011activated <strong>commands<\/strong>, and zero <strong>touching<\/strong> once you\u2019re in <strong>gear<\/strong>. If you need to <strong>interact<\/strong>, pull over to a safe, legal <strong>spot<\/strong> and switch the engine <strong>off<\/strong>. Many drivers now enable \u201cDo Not <strong>Disturb<\/strong> While Driving\u201d modes to suppress <strong>alerts<\/strong> and auto\u2011reply to <strong>messages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re unsure where you <strong>stand<\/strong>, check the WA Police Force and Department of <strong>Transport<\/strong> websites for the latest offence <strong>codes<\/strong>, point values, and enforcement <strong>periods<\/strong>. Rules do evolve, and camera <strong>technology<\/strong> capable of detecting illegal phone and seatbelt <strong>use<\/strong> is expanding across the <strong>network<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>What counts as \u201chands\u2011free,\u201d really<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHands\u2011free\u201d isn\u2019t a <strong>loophole<\/strong>; it\u2019s a narrow <strong>allowance<\/strong>. You can use built\u2011in <strong>car<\/strong> systems, steering\u2011wheel <strong>controls<\/strong>, or a securely mounted <strong>device<\/strong> you do not <strong>touch<\/strong> while on the <strong>road<\/strong>. If the phone is in your <strong>hand<\/strong>, on your <strong>lap<\/strong>, or loose in the <strong>console<\/strong>, you\u2019re at substantial <strong>risk<\/strong>. As one road\u2011safety <strong>campaigner<\/strong> puts it, \u201cIf the phone\u2019s in your <strong>palm<\/strong>, the penalty\u2019s in your <strong>future<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>The broader picture<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>WA\u2019s approach sits within a national <strong>push<\/strong> to clamp down on distracted <strong>driving<\/strong>, which continues to contribute to serious <strong>crashes<\/strong> and long\u2011tail <strong>injuries<\/strong>. Enforcement is only part of the <strong>story<\/strong>; the culture has to <strong>shift<\/strong>, too. \u201cWe redesigned our <strong>cars<\/strong> to be safer,\u201d says a rehabilitation <strong>specialist<\/strong>. \u201cNow we have to redesign our daily <strong>habits<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>In practice, the safest <strong>habit<\/strong> is the simplest: set your <strong>route<\/strong> before you roll, queue your <strong>podcast<\/strong>, and then leave the <strong>phone<\/strong> alone. The new rule doesn\u2019t ask you to be <strong>perfect<\/strong> \u2014 it asks you to be <strong>deliberate<\/strong>. One careless <strong>tap<\/strong> can snowball into weeks off the <strong>road<\/strong>, higher <strong>insurance<\/strong>, and long\u2011term <strong>costs<\/strong> you didn\u2019t plan <strong>for<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Drivers who adapt <strong>now<\/strong> will barely notice the <strong>change<\/strong>. Those who don\u2019t may learn the hard <strong>way<\/strong> that in Western Australia\u2019s updated <strong>system<\/strong>, a moment\u2019s distraction is no longer a minor <strong>matter<\/strong> \u2014 it\u2019s a demerit\u2011point <strong>magnet<\/strong> with real\u2011world <strong>consequences<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1696,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"class_list":["post-1674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A new demerit point rule takes effect across Western Australia and drivers could lose their licence over one common mistake - 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