G'day forumites. Heard this on the news today. Good if you are eligible. taken from Sydney morning herald. Click the link or read below, your choice!
http://m.smh.com.au/drive/roads-and-traffic/halfprice-licence-for-2-million-safe-drivers-20110906-1jvum.html
ALMOST half of NSW drivers will pay as little as $25 a year to renew their driver's licence under a new scheme to reward motorists who do not lose a demerit point for five years.
Licence fees for at least 45 per cent of the state's 4.2 million drivers will be halved for maintaining a clean driving record.
From July 1 next year, an unrestricted one-year licence for a safe driver will be reduced to just $25, while a three-year licence will cost $59 and a five-year licence $78.50.
A spokesman for the Roads and Traffic Authority said the rewards program would benefit more than 2 million drivers.
More below
''Although there are a greater number of licence holders when provisional and learner licences are included, only unrestricted licence holders will be eligible for half-price licences under the new scheme,'' the spokesman said.
The president of the NRMA, Wendy Machin, said rewarding drivers with a clean record was the fair thing to do.
''Anything that gives something back to motorists is a good thing because the majority of drivers try to do the right thing and many of them would definitely feel like they go unnoticed,'' Ms Machin said. ''The good drivers feel a little bit put out by all the talk about the bad drivers and for the ones that do the right thing, it is probably not about them saving money but the acknowledgement that they have done the right thing.''
The government said the annual revenue cost would be ''influenced by a cyclical pattern of licence renewals'' but it is estimated that it will cost the government $24 million this financial year, increasing to $37 million in 2014-15.
A similar scheme operates in Victoria, where drivers receive a 25 per cent discount for three years without demerit points.
The safe driving scheme was announced in yesterday's budget, which also included $200 million over four years for small road improvements promised before the March election. The largest projects include $5 million for overtaking lanes on the Newell Highway, $9 million for a Picton Road upgrade, $4 million on an Allawah bridge upgrade and $3 million on overtaking lanes for the Monaro Highway.
The Roads Minister, Duncan Gay, also committed to matching the federal government's $750 million funding boost for the Pacific Highway; committed $468 million extra for duplicating the unfinished stretches of highway; and will pay for the rest by privatising Port Botany.
In the 2010-11 financial year, however, the Roads and Traffic Authority actually failed to spend all the money that was allocated to it.
The RTA finished the year $169 million under budget because of delays in building the Hunter Expressway and delays in upgrading the Hume Highway, Pacific Highway and Great Western Highway.
About $8 million a year in fines revenue would also be lost after the government agreed to remove more than 30 speed cameras across that state that had been identified as having no impact on road safety, the budget papers
Any saving is good, there was talk about doing that here in QLD but it never happened for some reason.
Australia post pays for my licence, i will make sure i do get booked so the pricks have to pay more.
But at the end of the day good to see something good coming from good behavior.
Hi forumites, just got my licence renewal in the post and the letter says i could be eligable for the 50% discount from this renewal, not next year as the press stated. When i go in next week, i'll see if i get it. That would make my 5 year $162 licence only cost $81.00. cool huh. I will keep ya's posted. more bling for tigger.
For sure they're gonna introduce that here in South Oz pretty soon!
I know, 'cos I recently renewed my licence for ten years SO I WON"T GET TO BENEFIT "TIL 2022!!!.. and then only if I can keep my nose clean.
bugger.
Well there you go forumites! I have been a good boy over the last five years! renewed my licence today and it only cost 81 buckaroonies! So everyone..............how good have you been and get a half price renewal? I bought 2 edge cut shifter pegs and a edge cut brake pedal for Tigger so my savings on the licence has already goooooone.......................
