{"id":1943,"date":"2026-08-28T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shopattheponds.com.au\/news\/?p=1943"},"modified":"2026-08-27T19:05:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T09:05:20","slug":"a-new-demerit-rule-takes-effect-across-queensland-and-drivers-could-lose-their-licence-over-one-common-habit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shopattheponds.com.au\/news\/a-new-demerit-rule-takes-effect-across-queensland-and-drivers-could-lose-their-licence-over-one-common-habit\/","title":{"rendered":"A new demerit rule takes effect across Queensland and drivers could lose their licence over one common habit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Queensland drivers are waking up to a sharper <strong>penalty<\/strong> regime aimed squarely at a very <strong>common<\/strong> habit: touching or handling a phone behind the <strong>wheel<\/strong>. The updated demerit framework means a momentary <strong>tap<\/strong> can now snowball into a licence <strong>suspension<\/strong>, especially for those who repeat the <strong>offence<\/strong> within a short <strong>window<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>What has changed, and why it matters<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Under the refreshed <strong>rules<\/strong>, repeat mobile\u2011phone offences committed within 12 <strong>months<\/strong> now attract extra demerit <strong>points<\/strong>, pushing many motorists to the suspension <strong>threshold<\/strong> faster than they <strong>expect<\/strong>. The state\u2019s road safety stance is <strong>clear<\/strong>: distraction kills, and the phone is a habitual <strong>distraction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou might think it\u2019s just one quick <strong>glance<\/strong>, but it\u2019s a chain reaction of <strong>risk<\/strong>,\u201d said one Brisbane <strong>commuter<\/strong> on their way through the morning <strong>rush<\/strong>. That chain can end at 12 <strong>points<\/strong>, the level at which most open\u2011licence drivers face a <strong>suspension<\/strong> or a strict good\u2011behaviour <strong>period<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>The habit that trips up even careful drivers<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The most dangerous trap is the \u201cI\u2019m not <strong>moving<\/strong>, so it\u2019s <strong>fine<\/strong>\u201d mindset at traffic <strong>lights<\/strong>. In Queensland, using or holding a phone while <strong>driving<\/strong> remains illegal even when <strong>stationary<\/strong> at a red <strong>light<\/strong>. If you\u2019re not safely <strong>parked<\/strong>, you\u2019re still \u201cdriving\u201d under the <strong>law<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>That includes fumbling to skip a <strong>song<\/strong>, thumbing a quick <strong>reply<\/strong>, or resting the handset on your <strong>lap<\/strong> between gear <strong>shifts<\/strong>. What feels <strong>minor<\/strong> is exactly what the new system <strong>targets<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>Who is most at risk right now<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Learners and provisional <strong>drivers<\/strong> have far less demerit <strong>headroom<\/strong> than open\u2011licence <strong>holders<\/strong>. A couple of phone <strong>offences<\/strong> can wipe out a P\u2011plater\u2019s points <strong>buffer<\/strong> faster than they can say \u201chands\u2011free,\u201d leaving them off the <strong>road<\/strong> for weeks or even <strong>months<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Parents ferrying kids, gig\u2011economy <strong>drivers<\/strong>, and tradies navigating job <strong>sites<\/strong> are also at <strong>risk<\/strong>, because busy days make phone temptation feel <strong>constant<\/strong>. \u201cIf it\u2019s in your hand, it\u2019s in your <strong>head<\/strong>,\u201d notes one road\u2011safety <strong>advocate<\/strong>. \u201cAnd that\u2019s where the danger <strong>starts<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>How enforcement is tightening<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Queensland\u2019s camera network doesn\u2019t miss <strong>much<\/strong>. Fixed and mobile units are now tuned to detect phone <strong>handling<\/strong> and capture clear evidence of offences <strong>day<\/strong> and <strong>night<\/strong>. Traditional roadside policing continues, but the always\u2011on <strong>cameras<\/strong> close the gaps created by time and <strong>terrain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The result is a steadier, broader <strong>net<\/strong>. Offences caught by camera carry the same <strong>weight<\/strong> as those written by an officer at the <strong>window<\/strong>. For repeat <strong>offenders<\/strong>, the compounding points add up <strong>fast<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>What counts as illegal phone use in the car<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>A quick reminder helps cut <strong>confusion<\/strong>. If in <strong>doubt<\/strong>, assume you can\u2019t touch the <strong>device<\/strong> unless parked <strong>safely<\/strong> and using legal hands\u2011free <strong>setup<\/strong>. These actions will get you into <strong>trouble<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<ul><\/p>\n<li>Holding or touching a phone while the vehicle is moving or stopped at traffic lights; scrolling, typing, or tapping; using navigation without a proper cradle and hands\u2011free controls.<\/li>\n<p>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>The numbers that matter for your licence<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Hit the 12\u2011point <strong>mark<\/strong>, and you\u2019ll be choosing between a temporary <strong>suspension<\/strong> or a good\u2011behaviour <strong>period<\/strong> with tight <strong>limits<\/strong>. Learners and provisional drivers have much lower <strong>thresholds<\/strong>, meaning each point is a larger <strong>slice<\/strong> of their licence <strong>lifeline<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Double demerits for repeat <strong>offences<\/strong> within 12 months can quickly turn one lapse into a <strong>crisis<\/strong>. Think in terms of \u201ccompounding <strong>risk<\/strong>,\u201d not isolated <strong>mistakes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>Smart ways to stay compliant and calm<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Move your phone out of <strong>reach<\/strong> before you drive, not after the first <strong>ding<\/strong>. Pair your <strong>device<\/strong> to the car\u2019s system, use a legal <strong>cradle<\/strong>, and set navigation or playlists before you roll <strong>off<\/strong>. If you need to <strong>interact<\/strong>, pull over and park <strong>legally<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Small tweaks make big <strong>differences<\/strong>. Enable Do Not Disturb While <strong>Driving<\/strong>, use voice\u2011only <strong>assistants<\/strong>, and set auto\u2011replies that say you\u2019ll respond when it\u2019s <strong>safe<\/strong>. \u201cSilence the phone, not your <strong>judgement<\/strong>,\u201d as safety campaigns like to <strong>say<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>What to do if you\u2019ve already slipped<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve picked up recent <strong>points<\/strong>, check your demerit <strong>balance<\/strong> and consider a defensive\u2011driving <strong>course<\/strong> for a skills and mindset <strong>reset<\/strong>. Treat the next 12 months like a <strong>probation<\/strong> period: be meticulous with scanning, speed, and following <strong>distance<\/strong> to avoid any extra <strong>hits<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>For professional drivers, talk with your <strong>employer<\/strong> about phone\u2011free workflows and realistic booking <strong>windows<\/strong>. Removing time <strong>pressure<\/strong> reduces the urge to sneak a <strong>tap<\/strong> at the lights or in slow <strong>traffic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>The bigger picture on safer roads<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>This shift isn\u2019t about catching people out; it\u2019s about changing <strong>norms<\/strong>. Once the phone becomes a non\u2011option while <strong>driving<\/strong>, attention <strong>returns<\/strong> to where it belongs: the road, the mirrors, the <strong>gaps<\/strong>. Fewer glances down mean fewer near\u2011misses, fewer <strong>sirens<\/strong>, and fewer hard <strong>calls<\/strong> to families.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSet your rules before the <strong>engine<\/strong> starts,\u201d says a long\u2011haul <strong>driver<\/strong> who ditched his windscreen <strong>cradle<\/strong> years <strong>ago<\/strong>. \u201cWhen the wheels turn, the phone stays <strong>put<\/strong>.\u201d It\u2019s a simple <strong>habit<\/strong> that could save your licence\u2014and someone\u2019s <strong>life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1988,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"class_list":["post-1943","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 - 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