Danielle McCarthy
Legal

The little-known offences that could see you lose your driver's licence

All drivers know that a sure-fire way to lose your licence is speeding and drink driving, but there are offences that could see you suspended.

Drivers are not only responsible for themselves on the road, but they are responsible for the actions of their passengers.

A driver can be slapped with a fine and lose demerit points if passengers are caught without their seatbelt on.

In NSW, a driver with two or more passengers without a seatbelt can lose up to six demerit points or 12 during a double-demerit period.

If there are four passengers in a vehicle without their seatbelts on, a driver could face fines of up to $1422.

Using your mobile phone while driving is illegal across all states and territories in Australia and is another offence that could land you without a licence.

Earlier this month, the penalty for the crime increased in NSW to five demerit points, or 10 during double-demerit periods.

If you are caught using your phone in Victoria or the ACT, you could lose four demerit points.

In Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, motorists will attract a three-point deduction for the offence.

Speeding will also result in a deduction of between one and eight demerit points depending on the amount the vehicle has gone over the speed limit.

Driving with a device that detects or interferes with speed cameras, known as a ‘speed evasion article’, is also illegal and will result in a nine-demerit point deduction in NSW along with a $1757 fine.

Motorbike riders are also responsible for themselves and any passengers not wearing a helmet and can face steep fines and demerit point reductions.

Across all state and territories, L plate and P plate licence holders start with a lower amount of demerit points, so they can quickly lose their licence if they are caught breaking the law. 

Tags:
road rules, lose, licence