Lovin’ Life 11/10/2018: Zero!!!!


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Today I am loving the number zero.  It’s symmetry, it’s finality and the fact that it is the current value of my demerit points as of this week.

It was the October long weekend this time three years ago and I had just moved to SSG Manor 2.0.  I was rushing off to work and high fiving myself for making such good time and not getting lost on my way to the Cross City Tunnel.

The problem is that I made such good time through the tunnel because I was speeding.  On a double demerit long weekend.  At the best of times, it’s a three point offence.  Double demerits took it up to six.  Points stay on your record for three years and it only takes 13 points to lose your licence for 3 months….

My little speeding incident triggered a gentle reminder letter from Roads and Maritime Services along with this handy little brochure.  The letter and brochure have been on my fridge ever since as a daily reminder to watch my speed and general driving behaviour.  Or else.

No one likes demerit points and most people like to think that they were hard done by getting points.  We all like to think that we’re mostly good drivers and we were just caught out on a bad day.  Or at least that’s how I like to think.

But the points were a very effective behaviour modifier for me.  I sat down and made a note of all the ways my life would change if I lost my licence for 3 months.  How impossible the commute to work and to school would be.  All the activities and fun things I do in an average week that are relatively effortless with a car as opposed to relying on public transport.  And shopping.  How on earth could I bring home the week’s groceries on a bus?

I’ve been driving with half an eye on the speedometer as a result.  My peripheral vision is highly sensitive to anything on the side of the road that could be a speed camera.  I avoid travel during the school day slow down periods.  I’ve managed to get no further demerits since that crop of six on October 4, 2015.

And now I’m back to zero and determined to stay there for as long as I can.

Have you ever been ‘this close’ with demerit points?  Did all those points make you a safer and more careful driver?


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