Will a B2 License Be Directly Downgraded for 12 Demerit Points?

[StAdeline]

Under the new traffic regulations, a B2 license will not be downgraded for 12 demerit points. According to the Road Traffic Safety Law, effective from April 1, 2022, if an A or B driver's license accumulates 12 demerit points, the license can be reinstated through study and examination without being downgraded. However, if 12 points are deducted multiple times within one cycle, the study period will be extended, and additional study content and examination subjects will be required. For a B2-type motor vehicle driver's license, if the accumulated demerit points do not exceed 12, the driver must attend a training course after the demerit period ends to restore the points. The license can then be used normally without any impact. However, if the points exceed 12 and involve serious traffic accidents, the license may be permanently revoked. The B2 driver's license primarily authorizes the operation of vehicles such as fire trucks, water sprinklers, and other specialized vehicles. This license can be obtained by individuals aged 20 or older and remains valid until the age of 60. Applicants over 50 years old are not eligible to take the B2 license examination. B2 License Examination Subjects: Subject 1 covers: road traffic rules, traffic signals, handling of traffic violations and accidents, regulations on motor vehicle driver's license application and use, motor vehicle registration, and other relevant road traffic laws and regulations. Subject 2 includes: large truck testing with components like pole parking, hill starts, parallel parking, single-plank bridge crossing, curve driving, right-angle turns, narrow gate passing, continuous obstacle negotiation, bumpy road driving, narrow road U-turns, and simulations for highways, mountainous roads with sharp turns, tunnels, rain/fog conditions, slippery roads, and emergency handling. Subject 3 (Road Driving Skills) covers: preparation for driving, starting, straight-line driving, gear shifting, lane changing, roadside parking, straight-through intersections, left/right turns, pedestrian crossings, school zones, bus stops, meeting vehicles, overtaking, U-turns, and night driving. The test must cover at least 10 kilometers, with at least 5 kilometers during the day and 3 kilometers at night. For large trucks, local traffic authorities may add complex road conditions like mountainous areas, tunnels, and steep slopes. Subject 4 (Safe and Civilized Driving Knowledge) includes: safe driving practices, knowledge for driving under adverse weather and complex road conditions, emergency handling methods for situations like tire blowouts, and post-accident procedures.

[Terrence]

I've been driving heavy trucks for several years and know that if a B2 driver's license accumulates 12 penalty points within one scoring cycle, it usually doesn't directly downgrade your license type. What actually happens is you need to report to the DMV, where they'll temporarily suspend your license and arrange for you to attend a 7-day traffic regulations and safety course. After completing the course, you'll have to take a test. Pass the exam, and your points get cleared, with your license returning to normal use. But pay attention to two key points: if you're still in the probationary period (having held the license for less than a year) when you accumulate 12 points, your license gets revoked outright, requiring you to start the application and testing process from scratch. Additionally, if you frequently accumulate 12 points, like doing so two years in a row, traffic authorities may review whether you're still fit to operate heavy vehicles, at which point the risk of downgrade becomes real. That's why I always remind fellow drivers - don't speed or drink-drive recklessly. Driving properly is what matters most, as penalty points waste time and affect your work.