Motorists travelling over the Anzac Day long weekend are being warned to check local road rules, with a patchwork of state-based laws set to catch some drivers off guard.

While Anzac Day is marked nationwide, double demerit penalties will only apply in New South Wales, Western Australia and the ACT, which could catch interstate travellers unfamiliar with the differences.

This year, Anzac Day falls on Saturday, April 25, with Monday declared a public holiday in those three jurisdictions. As a result, authorities have confirmed a four-day enforcement period, with double demerits in place from 12:00am Friday through to 11:59pm Monday.

During this time, fines remain unchanged, but the number of demerit points applied to certain offences will be doubled. In NSW and the ACT, this includes speeding, mobile phone use, failing to wear a seatbelt and riding without a helmet. Western Australia applies the tougher penalties more broadly, including drink and drug driving, red-light offences and failing to properly restrain a child.

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The impact can be significant. For example, using a mobile phone while driving in NSW normally carries a five-point penalty, but during double demerits this increases to 10 points placing drivers close to licence suspension.

Authorities have also reminded drivers that school zones will still operate as normal on the Friday, adding another layer of risk for those not paying attention.

Other states and territories take a different approach. Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory do not enforce double demerits during holiday periods, while Queensland instead targets repeat offenders, doubling points for certain offences committed more than once within a 12-month period.

With thousands expected to travel over the long weekend, officials are urging drivers to remain vigilant and understand the rules in each state they pass through to avoid unexpected penalties.