Repeat traffic offenders

On 18 April 2018, the Attorney General asked us to review the sentencing of repeat traffic offenders who may pose an ongoing risk to the community.

Report

We transmitted our Report: Repeat Traffic Offenders (PDF, 1.2 MB) to the Attorney General on 21 September 2020. It was released on 15 December 2020.

The NSW Government provided a response (PDF, 194.1 KB) in April 2022. 

Other documents

The following documents were part of the consultation process for our Report:

• Submissions (responding to the Consultation Paper)
  
• Consultation Paper (PDF, 1.2 MB) (published in December 2018)
  
• Preliminary submissions (responding to the terms of reference)

Terms of reference

We received the following terms of reference on 18 April 2018:

The Sentencing Council is to review the sentencing of recidivist traffic offenders who may pose an ongoing risk to the community and make recommendations for reform to promote road safety. In conducting the review, the Council should:

1. provide sentencing statistics on such offenders and analyse them in terms of relevant offender characteristics
2. consider the principles the courts should apply when sentencing such offenders
3. have regard to the availability of, and relevant findings on, driver intervention programs and other initiatives in NSW and other comparable jurisdictions
4. consult with road safety and other experts, and consider international best practice, on how best to deter recidivist traffic offenders from reoffending and encourage safe driving practices; and
5. have regard to any other matter the Council considers relevant.