If you drive faster than the set speed limit, you are committing a speeding offence. Speeding increases your risk of having a crash, as well as how severe the crash could be.
The faster you are going:
- the stopping distance of your car increases
- the impact of a crash is more severe
- the likelihood of death or serious injury increases.
Different speeding offences carry different penalties depending on how severe the offence is. Penalties range from fines and demerit points to licence disqualification and imprisonment.
Search offences and penalties for a full list of speeding offences and their penalties.
Serious speeding offences
If you are convicted of a serious speeding offence you may face heavy penalties.
A serious speeding offence is defined by:
- driving more than 45km/h above the speed limit
- driving more than 30km/h but not more than 45km/h above the speed limit
- driving with a licence disqualification or suspension and exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h.
For serious speeding offences, you may have your licence suspended or disqualified for a period of time. NSW Police can issue a licence suspension at the roadside if you are caught speeding by more than 45km/h over the speed limit. Police also have the right to impound your vehicle or confiscate your vehicle's number plates.
These offences carry demerit points that will be added to your record. If you reach or go over your demerit point limit, an additional suspension period may apply. This additional suspension would be added on top of the suspension you receive for the speeding offence.
For more information on demerits, see How demerits work.
How speeding is detected
You can be caught speeding by:
- fixed speed cameras
- mobile speed cameras
- police.
If you're caught speeding by a fixed or mobile speed camera, the camera will clearly show the colour, type, make and number plate of your vehicle.
Speed cameras will also record the:
- date of the offence
- time of the offence
- location details of the camera that took the picture
- direction of travel of the offending vehicle
- speed of the offending vehicle
- speed limit of the road where the camera is situated
- other security and integrity parameters.
To ensure that mobile and fixed speed cameras are accurate, Transport for NSW conducts rigorous, regular testing to ensure the cameras are meeting legislation requirements.
Certain driving offences incur demerit points. If you accumulate 100 or more demerit points in any two-year period, your licence can be suspended for three months.
When are demerit points given
Demerit points are given for all speeding infringements (except those recorded by speed camera), some traffic offences and for breaching licence conditions, eg a learner driver unaccompanied by a supervisor or a restricted driver carrying unauthorised passengers.
Demerit points also apply to some alcohol-related infringements and offences, for example, points can also be allocated in conjunction with a court disqualification where the court chooses to disqualify a person for less than six months.
How long do demerits stay on your licence
Demerit points remain active on your licence record for a period of two years from the date of the offence. However, if the court disqualifies you for a period of six months or more, any active demerit points recorded on your licence record at the time will be cancelled and will no longer contribute to your active demerit point total.
Demerit suspension
If you accumulate 100 or more active demerit points within any two-year period, your licence will be suspended for a period of three months and you will not be entitled to drive. The suspension period begins as soon as the demerit suspension notice is served on you by the Transport Agency, the police or an authorised agent of the Transport Agency. Any active demerit points recorded on your licence record at the time will be cancelled and will no longer contribute to your demerit point total.
At the end of your demerit suspension, you’ll be unlicensed and not entitled to drive until you’ve reinstated your licence.
Find out how to get your licence back after your suspension ends
Download Factsheet 55: Driving offences and penalties [PDF, 76 KB]
Demerit point information
See below for the offences that incur demerit points, and the number of demerit points for each of those offences.
- Demerit points for speed related offences
- Demerit points for mobile phone related offences
- Demerit points for driver licence related offences
- Demerit points for vehicle related offences
- Demerit points for alcohol and enforcement officer related offences
- Demerit points for commercial driving related offences
- Demerit points for helmet related offences
- Demerit points for pedestrian crossing and pedestrian zone related offences
- Demerit points for rail related offences
- Demerit points for road rules related offences
Demerit points for speed related offences (excluding speed camera offences)
Exceeding the speed limit fixed by not more than 10 km/h | 10 |
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 km/h but not more than 20 km/h | 20 |
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 km/h but not more than 30 km/h | 35 |
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km/h but not more than 35 km/h | 40 |
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 35 km/h | 50 |
Using, in a motor vehicle, equipment that interferes with operation of speed measuring device | 25 |
Possessing, in a motor vehicle, equipment that is designed to interfere with operation of speed measuring device | 25 |
Exceed speed for stopping distance | 20 |
Exceed speed for stopping distance on road not marked in lanes | 20 |
Demerit points for mobile phone related offences
Driver uses mobile phone while driving a vehicle | 20 |
Demerit points for driver licence related offences
Drives motor vehicle contrary to the GDLS conditions of his or her driver licence (excluding the requirement to display L plates) | 35 |
Failure to display L plate as required | 25 |
Drives a motor vehicle contrary to the non-GDLS conditions of his or her driver licence | 25 |
Drives in breach of conditions applying to stage 2 of accelerated licensing process | 35 |
Drives in breach of conditions applying to stage 3 of accelerated licensing process | 35 |
Demerit points for vehicle related offences
Operating unregistered motor vehicle by driving or using it on road in contravention of section 242(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998 | 20 |
Operating unlicensed motor vehicle by driving or using it on road in contravention of section 242(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998 | 15 |
Operating motor vehicle on road without plates affixed | 20 |
Using trade plate when not eligible | 20 |
Operating motor vehicle displaying plates or licence not authorised for that motor vehicle | 25 |
Operating motor vehicle displaying object or design likely to be mistaken for plates or licence authorised for that motor vehicle | 25 |
Operating motor vehicle with plates or licence that is wholly or partially obscured or not easily distinguishable | 25 |
Operating motor vehicle with temporary exemption granted under regulation 20 of the Land Transport (Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2011 | 20 |
Failure to operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system that complies with relevant noise output standards | 25 |
Operate vehicle that creates excessive noise | 25 |
Create excessive noise within or on vehicle | 25 |
Demerit points for alcohol and enforcement officer related offences
Failure or refusal to remain for evidential breath test or blood test | 50 |
Person younger than 20 driving or attempting to drive with excessive breath alcohol or blood alcohol concentration | 50 |
Driving or attempting to drive with breath alcohol exceeding 250 micrograms but not exceeding 400 micrograms | 50 |
Driving or attempting to drive with blood alcohol exceeding 50 milligrams but not exceeding 80 milligrams | 50 |
Driving or attempting to drive with blood alcohol exceeding 50 milligrams but not exceeding 80 milligrams and failing or refusing to undergo an evidential breath test | 50 |
Failure or refusal to wait for the result of a breath screening test or an evidential breath test | 50 |
Failure to stop on request or signal of an enforcement officer, or on being followed by motor vehicle displaying flashing blue, or blue and red, lights or sounding a siren | 35 |
Failure to remain stopped for an enforcement officer | 35 |
Driving or attempting to drive when forbidden by an enforcement officer | 35 |
Failure or refusal to accompany an enforcement officer when so required | 50 |
Person fails to produce zero alcohol licence | 25 |
Holder of an interlock licence or zero alcohol licence contravenes specified breath or blood alcohol level | 50 |
Demerit points for commercial driving related offences
Person produces logbook with 1–5 omissions | 10 |
Person produces logbook with 6–10 omissions | 20 |
Person produces logbook with 11 or more omissions | 30 |
Person fails to produce logbook | 35 |
Requirement to produce approved alternative record to an enforcement officer on demand | 35 |
Vehicle recovery service vehicles (requirement to complete and retain tow authorities) | 35 |
Requirement on driver or contractor working within an alternative fatigue management scheme to keep records | 35 |
Taxi driver must not accept hire in specified area unless taxi is fitted with an in-vehicle security camera system that is operating | 20 |
Taxi driver must not accept hire in specified area unless taxi is fitted with an in-vehicle security camera system that has an unobscured view of the interior | 20 |
Demerit points for helmet related offences
Drive or ride all terrain vehicle, motorcycle, or moped without securely fastened approved helmet | 25 |
Drive or ride all terrain vehicle, motorcycle, or moped with damaged, etc, safety helmet | 25 |
Demerit points for pedestrian crossing and pedestrian zone related offences
Driver fails to give way at pedestrian crossing | 35 |
Driver enters pedestrian crossing when passage blocked | 35 |
Driver of vehicle fails to give way to pedestrian on shared zone | 35 |
Fail to comply with school patrol sign | 20 |
Passing at school crossing point or pedestrian crossing | 20 |
Demerit points for rail related offences
Driver fails to give way to rail vehicle approaching level crossing | 20 |
Drive etc, cycle, vehicle, or animal across level crossing when risk of collision with rail vehicle | 20 |
Fail to comply with stop sign at level crossing | 20 |
Fail to remain stationary at stop sign until level crossing clear | 20 |
Driver enters controlled area of level crossing when red signal displayed | 20 |
Driver enters controlled area of level crossing when barrier arm lowered | 20 |
Demerit points for road rules related offences
Fail to drive as near as practicable to the left of the roadway | 20 |
Fail to allow impeded traffic to pass | 20 |
Unsafe passing | 35 |
Impeding vehicle when passing | 35 |
Passing to right of no-passing line | 35 |
Drive in emergency stopping lane | 10 |
Fail to comply with handheld stop sign | 20 |
Driver fails to stop at stop sign | 20 |
Driver fails to give way at stop sign | 20 |
Driver fails to give way at give-way sign | 20 |
Driver fails to give way at give-way sign controlling a one-way section of road | 25 |
Driver of vehicle changing lanes or turning fails to give way to vehicle not changing lanes or turning | 20 |
Driver of right-turning vehicle fails to give way to an approaching left-turning vehicle | 20 |
Driver at intersection fails to give way to vehicle approaching from right | 20 |
Driver on terminating road approaching or crossing a T intersection fails to give way | 20 |
Driver fails to give way to road user on footpath when entering/exiting driveway | 20 |
Driver fails to give way to a vehicle on roadway when exiting driveway | 20 |
Driver entering roundabout fails to give way | 20 |
Drive too close to vehicle in front | 20 |
Exceed speed for stopping distance | 20 |
Exceed speed for stopping distance on road not marked in lanes | 20 |
Driver permits riding dangerously | 20 |
Careless or inconsiderate use of motor vehicle | 35 |