Are you a dangerous driver?

Most people consider themselves to be good drivers. Yet many are still using their phones while driving, two fifths admit to speeding, and a fifth knowingly drive even though they are really tired. If you get demerit points for dangerous driving, it pushes up the cost of your green slip.

Do you use your phone while driving?

Many people are still using their phones while driving. One telematics app analysed 18 million kilometres of driving data in Australia. It detected 91% of customers using their phones while driving – that’s nearly all of them. They were driving at an average speed of 43 kph when they used their phones.

• NSW drivers used their phones during one in 7 car trips.
• WA and Victoria drivers were the worst at one every 6 trips.
• Women were more likely than men to use their phones while driving.

Thanks to mobile phone detection cameras, you have a higher risk of being caught.

As at 1 May 2025, the fine for illegal phone use is $410 ($544 in a school zone) and 5 demerit points.

Are you still using your mobile?

What are your dangerous driving habits?

Speeding is still the worst driving habit, according to a recent iSelect survey. Some 2 in 5 of drivers owned up to it. Speeding was the most common offence across all ages and, surprisingly, the worst speeders were 55–64 year olds.

The second most common habit is driving while very tired, as one in 5 drivers admit. Some 28% of Gen Z drivers do this, compared to 11.6% of those over 65.

• NSW and Victorian motorists were most likely to use social media while driving. Other types of illegal phone use, such as texting, were all too common.
• The same states were also most prone to road rage (14.3% of drivers admit to it).

Perhaps the differences between men and women drivers are gradually narrowing.

Even so, the biggest difference was 17% of women (9% of men) were prone to be distracted by other passengers. This is most likely a sign of Mum’s taxi driving. Men still exhibit high-risk behaviours, such as steering with their knees, driving under the influence, watching videos, racing other drivers, and even physical intimacy while driving.

Drivers of certain car brands, surprisingly, more often say they take risks:

• Audi drivers were the riskiest – 82.5% had at least one dangerous habit.
• Volkswagen came second – 70% had at least one dangerous habit.
• Volkswagen drivers were most likely to speed (55%) and report road rage (23%).
• Audi drivers, followed by Volkswagen drivers, were more likely to run a red light (1 in 10).

Even so, the vehicle with the most risk for the owner is a motorcycle.

Are you taking dangerous risks on a motorcycle?

Motorcycle deaths and injuries are increasing in NSW. Up to the end of April 2025, 30 riders have died, compared to 21 in 2024 and a 3-year average of 20 deaths.

• While motorcycles are one in 25 registered vehicles in NSW, nearly one in 5 road deaths in 2024 were riders.
• The risk of dying is highest during the learner, P1, and P2 licence phases.
• Motorcyclist injuries increased by 205 (8%) to 2,938 in the year to Sept 2024.

To address this trend, the NSW government held a Motorcycle Safety Roundtable on 29 April 2025. It discussed improvements to the Graduated Licensing Scheme, new road and vehicle safety measures, and more use of protective clothing.

Did you know, you can reduce by 40% your risk of injury to your hands and feet by wearing gloves and boots?

Riding dangerously and incurring demerit points can also affect your green slip price.

Demerit points affect your green slip price

Demerit points on your licence always affect the price of your green slip. Some vehicle owners are saving over $300 each year on their greenslip because they have no demerit points. This is a saving over 3 years of $900!

We used the greenslips.com.au Calculator for a woman, 45, with an insured Rav4 in the metro area with 0-3 demerit points at 1 May 2025.

With 1 demerit point only, you could pay $110 more for the cheapest green slip.

• 3 demerit points could cost you $293 more than having no points.
• Over 3 years, 1-3 demerits could cost you $330 to $879 for the cheapest green slips.

If you accumulate 13 demerit points, you lose your licence. See Life without a drivers licence.