Point system (driving)

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (July 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Point system" driving – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

A penalty point or demerit point system revokes or suspends a person's driving license based on the number of points accumulated over a specific period. Points are assigned for traffic offenses and infringements committed during this time. These schemes will vary in form and scope depending on the jurisdiction and enforcing authority. Points will often be accompanied by fines or other penalties, which may scale according to the total number of points accrued.

Under these schemes, a driver licensing authority, police force, or other authorized entity maintains a record of the demerit points accumulated by drivers. Points may be added or subtracted according to the rules of each jurisdiction's system. When a driver reaches or exceeds the prescribed point threshold, their license is typically revoked or suspended for a defined period or until specific conditions are met. Once the suspension period ends, the accumulated demerit points are usually reset or cancelled. The primary objective of these point systems is to identify, penalize, and discourage repeat traffic offenders while also facilitating a more efficient legal process.