SWOV positions

11 October 2006

All the attention, as well as the publicity, around the introduction of a demerit points system will initially have a positive road safety effect. Based on international experience and research it is known that the long term effect of demerit points systems depends on a sufficient level of police enforcement (chance of being caught).

The experiences with demerit points systems abroad show that initially there is a positive effect (people drive more carefully). However, if one finds out that there is only a small chance  of being caught, many will slip back into their old behaviour with (bad) offences. This has as a consequence that the safety effect slowly fades away after a while. The level of police enforcement and public information is crucial for a lasting success.

BACKGROUND

Difference between law proposal and average demerit points system

The government's proposed demerit system differs from an average one.

It is simpler than the demerit systems in the surrounding countries; it only aims at serious offences.

In brief, the proposed demerit points system amounts to an automatic licence suspension if the driving licence holder is caught a second time within five years for a serious offence.

For the police to impose a demerit point, they will have to halt the offender.

A serious offence can be:

• causing a serious crash
• considerably exceeding the legal alcohol limit (from 0.8 g/l for novice drivers and 1.3 g/l for experienced drivers)
• greatly exceeding speed limits.

Recommendations

• Maintain at least the current level of police surveillance and intensify it where possible.
• Assess in due course the effectiveness of the demerit points system in the Netherlands.

Literature

SWOV Fact sheet Puntenstelsels (March 2005), SWOV, Leidschendam