If you’re a provisional P1 licence holder, you have to know how many points on red Ps. This question is related to the amount of demerit points you can get on red Ps, before you face licence suspension. Having a provisional P1 driver licence is the first phase of your journey to becoming a fully-fledged driver.
Provisional P1 Licence or Red Ps
A Provisional P1 licence, also known as Red Ps, is the first stage of a provisional driver’s licence in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It allows drivers to operate a vehicle without a supervisor but with certain restrictions and conditions. To be eligible for a Provisional P1 licence, drivers must:
- Be at least 17 years old
- Have held a learner licence for a minimum of 12 months
- Have logged at least 120 driving hours, including 20 minimum night driving hours
- Pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT)
Once a driver has obtained a Provisional P1 licence, they can drive without a supervisor but must display red P plates on their vehicle. The licence is valid for 18 months or until the driver progresses to a Provisional P2 licence (Green Ps).
The maximum speed limit for drivers with a Provisional P1 licence is 90 km/h, and their blood alcohol concentration must be zero. Disobeying the additional rules associated with a Provisional P1 licence can result in heavy fines or loss of licence.
How Many Points on Red Ps?
A demerit point is a penalty point issued to you if you commit a driving-related offence that has associated demerit points. Penalty points known as demerit points are given for specific offences. Every driver and rider starts out with a clean record with zero demerit points. You will not get demerit points if you drive carefully and follow all the laws. Most demerit points expire on the demerit point register for 4 years.
For red Ps (provisional P1 licence), the demerit point limit is 4 points. If your red P licence will reach the limit, it will get suspended and you won’t be able to drive legally in New South Wales. However, even if you commit an offence outside NSW, the number of demerit points that the offence attracts in NSW may still be applied to your licence.
Some driving offences may incur double demerit points. Thus, you have to be very careful with the following offences, especially during holiday periods:
- Seatbelt offences
- Speeding offences
- Motorcycle helmet offences
- Mobile phone offences
How many points on red Ps will you get for these offences?
- For seatbelt offences, you will get 3 demerit points.
- For speeding offences, you may incur 1 to 7 demerit points, depending on the severity.
- For motorcycle helmet offences, you can get 3 to 9 demerit points.
- For mobile phone offences, 5 demerit points.
To check how many points on red Ps you have, use the NSW demerit point check. You can also browse through the various traffic offences and their corresponding demerit points to know how many points on red Ps have you acquired if you have committed an offence just recently.
Suspended Provisional P1 Licence
If drivers with a Provisional P1 licence in NSW exceed their demerit point limits, their licence will be suspended by Transport for NSW for three months. The driver can appeal the suspension to the Local Court within 28 days of receiving the demerit point suspension notice.
Afterwards, the court will review the decision by Transport for NSW and consider factors such as the circumstances of the offence, the need to promote public safety, and the driver’s traffic record. The magistrate may:
- allow the appeal,
- vary the suspension, or
- dismiss the appeal.
To avoid licence suspension, drivers with a Provisional P1 licence should:
- keep track of how many points on red Ps they have acquired
- avoid committing traffic offences
If a driver’s licence is suspended, they cannot drive during the suspension period. A person driving with their licence suspended will be committing a criminal offence and it can result in heavy penalties, including imprisonment. Moreover, drivers with a Provisional P1 licence who exceed their demerit point limit twice must retake the Driver Knowledge Test.
Provisional P1 Rules You Need to Know
Aside from obeying the NSW Road Rules and keeping track of how many points on red Ps you already have, a provisional P1 licence holder must abide by the following rules:
- You must only drive cars.
- You must display red P plates clearly on the front and back of the car, on the outside.
- You must only tow trailers up to 250 kilograms of unloaded weight, and you must display your red Ps on the back of the trailer.
- You must ensure that all your passengers must wear a seatbelt or restraint.
- You must only drive solo in the kind (manual or automatic) of car you took your driving test in.
- You must know about the offences and demerit points system so you can count how many points on red Ps your provisional licence have.
There are also things that you must not do if you’re a provisional P1 licence holder:
- Don’t drive above the 90km/h speed limit.
- Don’t drink and drive.
- Don’t supervise a learner driver.
- Don’t drive a high-performance vehicle.
- Don’t use your phone while driving, while the car is stopped or parked.
Prohibited Vehicles for Provisional Licence Holders
High-performance vehicles can’t be driven by P1 or P2 drivers. These are vehicles that have had significant modifications to their engines that enhance their performance. The law classifies these as “prohibited vehicles” for P1 and P2 license holders.
The power-to-tare mass ratio of a vehicle is used to determine whether a vehicle is a high-performance vehicle or not. If the ratio is greater than 130 kW per tonne, the vehicle is considered a high-performance vehicle.
The NSW government has a list of approved and prohibited vehicles for P1 and P2 license holders. The list of prohibited vehicles includes high-performance vehicles such as the:
- Nissan Skyline,
- Ford Mustang, and
- Holden Commodore SS.
Get Help From a Traffic Offence Lawyer
Demerit points can be costly and inconvenient, so it’s important to consult with a traffic offence lawyer if you’re facing demerit point charges. Moreover, you must frequently check how many points on red Ps you have. JB Solicitors can help you understand your rights and options and can represent you in court.
Here are some of the benefits of hiring a traffic offence lawyer for demerit points:
- We can help you understand the speeding offence charges against you and your legal options
- We can represent you in court and negotiate with the prosecution on your behalf.
- We can help you avoid costly penalties and protect your driving record from incurring more demerit points
- We can help you contest how many demerit points you should only have if you are found guilty of an traffic offence.
- We can help you choose if it wise to extend your demerit point period
If you’re facing demerit point charges, call us today at 1300 287 911 or 02 9723 8080. We can help you get the best possible outcome for your case.
Contact us and let’s discuss your case.
