Double demerit points will be imposed from Friday, February 26, until midnight Monday, March 1, on drivers caught drink or drug driving, speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt or carrying passengers in the open load space of a vehicle.“To avoid double demerit points, remember don’t drink or drug drive, stay within the posted speed limit and make sure everyone is wearing a seat belt and not travelling in an open load space,” Professor Holman said.

About 40 people perish in road crashes each year because they were not wearing seat belts and the number of those seriously injured was even higher.

• Motorists are also warned that independent testing by Consumer Protection in WA has found the Fuelstar Combustion Catalyst failed to deliver the petrol savings and emission reductions claimed by the promoters of this product.

WA distributor of Fuelstar, Major Auto Technics of Bellevue, advertised the catalyst would cut fuel consumption by six per cent and tailpipe emissions by 20 per cent in petrol engine vehicles.

Consumer Protection Commissioner Anne Driscoll ordered independent testing. “The results of the testing showed that in petrol cars there was no significant improvement in either fuel consumption or exhaust emissions,” Ms Driscoll said.

Consumer Protection told the suppliers to prove their claims or withdraw the product from sale and offer their customers a refund.