Australians are owed a refund for all the ridiculous money-grabbing Covid fines slapped on businesses and individuals who refused to treat their fellow citizens like crap. Fines that, we now know, had nothing to do with health and everything to do with revenue-raising, fear-mongering, and the strong-arm of government authority. Motorists are also due a bit of grace after police scratched arbitrary lines across the nation and set up road blocks for months on end.

Instead of honouring the passing of a much-loved monarch with a little ‘sorry we persecuted, segregated, and tormented the public for two years – here’s your money back’ message from the Prime Minister, some states (particularly New South Wales) have decided to add a bit of extra misery to the Queen’s passing.

Australians in NSW are set to suffer through five days of double demerit points (from September 21-25).

According to Transport NSW:

Drivers are being urged to take extra care on the roads from this Wednesday, with double demerits coming into effect ahead of Thursday’s public holiday, the National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty the Queen and school holidays commencing on Saturday.

Transport NSW Deputy Secretary for Safety, Environment and Regulation Tara McCarthy added:

‘Although this is a sombre occasion, there is still likely to be more people out on the roads over the next few days and over the weekend with the school term ending on Friday, so it is important we all take extra care.

‘The last thing we want to see over this period is an increase in road trauma, which is why double-demerits will be in place like they would for any other public holiday to deter people from doing the wrong thing and putting lives at risk.

‘Drivers are reminded that this period includes some school days and it is especially important to slow down and take care in school zones at school times – even if you cannot see children near the road.’

While the government has no choice about the lovely little addition of double demerits for the public holiday, it was a choice to extend it beyond that point.

Road users have long tired of the ‘it’s for your safety’ approach to doubling punishments, given that it is common for patrol cars to hide by the side of the road and startle traffic rather than remaining in full view as a signal for drivers to slow down. Which approach is more successful at reducing overall accidents? ‘Hide and pounce’ or ‘see and remind’?

NSW Roads Minister Natalie Ward was nudged over the double lines for a moment during an interview with Ben Fordham on 2GB.

‘Why would they be slapping double demerits on a day which is dedicated to respecting Queen Elizabeth II?’ asked Fordham.

‘I’m not sure that that’s what the Prime Minister meant when he said we were going to observe a national day of mourning,’ Ward replied.

‘That seems heavy-handed to me…’

It comes after an earlier segment that Fordham did with Road Minister Natalie Ward to investigate the ‘sneaky’ positioning of new mobile speed cameras (cars) which were parked in the bushes behind trees. Ward confirmed that those vehicles are not meant to be playing hide and seek with motorists, but anyone who has spent time on the Pacific Highway can attest to police hiding in the long grass in dangerous blind spots at the bottom of hills all the time.

We have gone from sensible punishments for road crime (unless you’re one of the privileged class), to a situation where drivers are losing their licences for minor infringements and mistakes. NSW currently has $42 million in unpaid Covid fines (of $56.4 million issued), perhaps the Premier could draw a line under that figure?

Not that the government wants people driving personal cars anyway.