THE State Government’s road safety advisers are investigating whether introducing a demerit-point penalty for speeding by less than 10km/h, rather than simply fining drivers, will reduce road carnage.

Road Safety Commissioner Kim Papalia said international research showed the threat of being banned from the roads prompted drivers to change their bad behaviour more than fines alone.

WA is the only State that does not have a demerit-point penalty for speeding up to 9km/h over the limit.

New Department of Transport figures show more than 10,000 motorists have been banned this year for exceeding their points limit and tens of thousands more are just one offence away from joining them, with double demerit points in force this long weekend.

Mr Papalia said behavioural scientists were among the WA road safety experts who were also looking at whether drivers who repeatedly flouted the rules should face licence restrictions, such as lower demerit-point limits or re-sitting assessments.

One in three motorists waste the second chance they are given to avoid a demerit-point suspension, according to Transport figures, which Mr Papalia said was concerning.

Drivers can take a “double or nothing” option after exceeding their points limit, which enables them to stay on the road so long as in the next year they do not commit an offence that accrues more than one demerit point.

If they flout the 12-month good-behaviour period they are suspended for double the original penalty.

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“One in three breaching the agreement is too many,” Mr Papalia said.

“The program targets those who have habitually demonstrated bad behaviours ... it is a worry if they are still taking those risks. It is a last-chance scenario in terms of their driver’s licence.

“We hope their behaviour ... doesn’t represent a last chance to survive, because ultimately that could be the penalty you pay if you do the wrong thing.”

About 35 per cent of WA’s more than 1.9 million registered drivers, including P-platers and learners, have accrued demerit points, which take three years to clear.

Drivers with “full licences” face a ban if they accrue 12 demerit points and novice drivers are suspended if they accrue four points in their first year or eight in their second year holding a licence.

Mr Papalia said most WA motorists did the right thing — and the number with zero demerit points increased in the past year — but greater intervention was needed for those who habitually broke the law.

Last year, 14,519 drivers were served with demerit-point bans while the courts imposed almost 25,500 driving disqualifications.

The previous State government ruled out including a demerit-point penalty for low-level speeding because it was not a factor in the worst crashes.

Double demerit points apply until midnight on Monday.