Double Demerits 2026: Dates by State
Quick answer: The next NSW double demerit period is Christmas and New Year 2026-27: 24 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Western Australia: 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. The ACT also uses holiday periods. Queensland applies double demerits all year to repeat offences within 12 months; Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have no double demerits.
Updated . This is general information, not legal advice; the official page for each state is linked below.
New South Wales
Both dates included (Sydney time). Source: Transport for NSW, Demerit points (Double demerits).
Western Australia
Both dates included (Perth time). Source: WA Road Safety Commission, Double demerits.
Holiday road toll
The Christmas road toll count starts on 23 December 2026, from the states' daily official counts. So far this year: 288 deaths in NSW to 1 November 2026. Road toll by state.
Double demerits by state
Only NSW, the ACT and Western Australia use holiday double demerit periods, and their dates differ. Queensland doubles points for repeat offences all year.
| State | Double demerits | Which offences | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Next: 24 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 (Christmas and New Year 2026-27), starts in 51 days | Speeding; Illegal use of a mobile phone; Not wearing a seatbelt, or wearing it incorrectly; Driving with a passenger not wearing a seatbelt or approved child restraint; Riding without a helmet | Transport for NSW, Demerit points (Double demerits) checked 2 November 2026 |
| Australian Capital Territory | Public holiday periods (2026-27 dates not confirmed) | — | ACT Government, demerit points checked 2 November 2026 |
| Western Australia | Next: 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 (Christmas and New Year 2026-27), starts in 45 days | Speeding; Drink or drug driving; Not correctly wearing a seatbelt or child restraint; Running a red light; Illegal use of a mobile phone while driving; Driving a vehicle fitted with a device to evade speed cameras (14 points in a double demerit period); Driving in a manner to evade speed camera detection (14 points in a double demerit period) | WA Road Safety Commission, Double demerits checked 2 November 2026 |
| Queensland | All year, for repeat offences within 12 months | Speeding more than 20 km/h over the limit; Mobile phone offences; Driver seatbelt offences; Driver failing to ensure passengers under 16 are restrained; Motorcycle helmet offences | Queensland Government, Double demerit points checked 2 November 2026 |
| Victoria | No double demerits Official page not reachable from our check on 2 November 2026; confirm there. |
— | VicRoads, Demerit points checked 2 November 2026 |
| South Australia | No double demerits Official page not reachable from our check on 2 November 2026; confirm there. |
— | SA Government, Demerit points checked 2 November 2026 |
| Tasmania | No double demerits Official page not reachable from our check on 2 November 2026; confirm there. |
— | Transport Tasmania checked 2 November 2026 |
| Northern Territory | No double demerits Official page not reachable from our check on 2 November 2026; confirm there. |
— | NT Government, Demerit points checked 2 November 2026 |
New South Wales double demerit dates
Double demerit points apply during set public holiday periods. Applies to: speeding; illegal use of a mobile phone; not wearing a seatbelt, or wearing it incorrectly; driving with a passenger not wearing a seatbelt or approved child restraint; riding without a helmet.
| Holiday | Double demerit period | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas and New Year 2025-26 | Wed 24 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026 | Ended |
| Australia Day 2026 | Fri 23 Jan 2026 – Mon 26 Jan 2026 | Ended |
| Easter 2026 | Thu 2 Apr 2026 – Mon 6 Apr 2026 | Ended |
| Anzac Day 2026 | Fri 24 Apr 2026 – Mon 27 Apr 2026 | Ended |
| King's Birthday 2026 | Fri 5 Jun 2026 – Mon 8 Jun 2026 | Ended |
| Labour Day 2026 | Fri 2 Oct 2026 – Mon 5 Oct 2026 | Ended |
| Christmas and New Year 2026-27 | Thu 24 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | In 51 days |
On Thursday 2 April, Friday 24 April and Friday 5 June 2026 school zones also operated. Periods after 3 January 2027 had not been published on 2 November 2026.
Western Australia double demerit dates
Double demerit points apply during holiday periods and long weekends. Applies to: speeding; drink or drug driving; not correctly wearing a seatbelt or child restraint; running a red light; illegal use of a mobile phone while driving; driving a vehicle fitted with a device to evade speed cameras (14 points in a double demerit period); driving in a manner to evade speed camera detection (14 points in a double demerit period).
| Holiday | Double demerit period | Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Year 2025-26 | Fri 19 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026 | Ended |
| Australia Day 2026 | Fri 23 Jan 2026 – Mon 26 Jan 2026 | Ended |
| Labour Day 2026 | Fri 27 Feb 2026 – Mon 2 Mar 2026 | Ended |
| Easter 2026 | Thu 2 Apr 2026 – Mon 6 Apr 2026 | Ended |
| Anzac Day 2026 | Fri 24 Apr 2026 – Mon 27 Apr 2026 | Ended |
| Western Australia Day 2026 | Fri 29 May 2026 – Mon 1 Jun 2026 | Ended |
| King's Birthday 2026 | Fri 25 Sep 2026 – Mon 28 Sep 2026 | Ended |
| Christmas and New Year 2026-27 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | In 45 days |
The City of Karratha and the Town of Port Hedland observe the King's Birthday long weekend on Monday 3 August 2026 (Monday 2 August 2027). The Road Safety Commission says dates may change.
Christmas road toll 2026-27
Deaths from 23 December to 3 January, the Christmas period used by the Australian Road Deaths Database, so this season can be compared with earlier ones.
The 2026-27 count starts on 23 December 2026. From then this section shows the deaths in each state with a daily official count (NSW, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory where their pages can be read), updated every 6 hours.
Christmas road toll by year and state
The deadliest season in the database was 1989-90 (76 deaths); the lowest was 2013-14 (27).
| Season | NSW | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | NT | ACT | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 2021-22 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 37 |
| 2020-21 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| 2019-20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 33 |
| 2018-19 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 42 |
| 2017-18 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 53 |
| 2016-17 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 |
| 2015-16 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 38 |
| 2014-15 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| 2013-14 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 27 |
| 2012-13 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 52 |
| 2011-12 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 49 |
| 2010-11 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 |
| 2009-10 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| 2008-09 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 40 |
Source: Australian Road Deaths Database (BITRE), CC BY 3.0 AU; the "Christmas period" flag covers the 12 days from 23 December. The downloadable copy ends in October 2023, so later seasons are not in this table yet.
Related: Australia road toll 2026 by state · NSW road toll · WA road toll · Queensland road toll · driving laws in Australia · penalty points by country · Australia accident news.
Double demerits — FAQ
When are double demerits in NSW this Christmas?
Are double demerits on now?
When are WA double demerits for Christmas 2026-27?
Do double demerits apply in Victoria?
How do double demerits work in Queensland?
How many people die on Australian roads over Christmas?
Sources: each state's official page as linked in the table, checked 2 November 2026; road toll counts from the state road safety agencies and police (see road toll sources). Dates can change; the state's own page is the authority. This is general information, not legal advice.