Seatbelt cameras lead to 60 per cent drop in fines but passengers’ poor seatbelt habits persist

The number of drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts on NSW roads has dropped since seatbelt cameras were introduced — but more than 80 per cent of fines are still being issued due to a split-second mistake.

Motorists should never wear a seatbelt under their arm. Picture: NSW Government

The number of drivers and ­passengers not wearing seatbelts has dropped by 60 per cent since seatbelt cameras were introduced, but more than 80 per cent of those fined using the new technology were wearing their belts incorrectly.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal that since the Minns government set up seatbelt enforcement cameras across NSW last July, 140 million vehicles have been checked for seatbelts following a horror 12 months on NSW roads.

While most motorists are buckling up, 88 per cent of offenders caught and fined through the cameras were not wearing their seatbelts correctly, costing the driver $423 and three demerit points each time.

The push to crackdown on dodgy seatbelt habits comes after 34 people died last year on NSW roads while not wearing a seatbelt.

So far this year, a further 11 people have died while not wearing a seatbelt as the overall road toll climbed to 200 – withroughly one person a day dying on our roads.

People driving with incorrect seat belts and phones in their hands. Picture: NSW Government

Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said people were “gambling” with lives by not wearing seatbelts from the shoulder to the hip and across the waist – a design that doubles the chance of survival in an accident.

“Some of the images collected are truly shocking, including multiple people in the same seatbelt or no seatbelt at all,” Ms Aitchison said.

While most offenders are not wearing their seatbelts correctly, some passengers are not wearing a seatbelt at all. Picture: NSW Government

Already this year so far, 11 people have died in car accidents while not wearing a seatbelt. Picture: NSW Government

The drop in overall offences comes after the government introduced seatbelt cameras last July. Picture: NewsWire handout

“While the improvement in noncompliance is encouraging, we’re witnessing far too many offences involving passengers wearing seatbelts incorrectly, with approximately 75,000 recorded offences over the past year.”

In the last five years 163 people have died while not wearing a seatbelt in NSW, with 85 per cent of these deaths occurring on regional roads.

Motorists are reminded to never wear their seatbelt under the arm as the government forges ahead with a suite of measures to tackle the road death toll, including average speed camera trials for light vehicles and 2700 additional mobile speed cameras.

Originally published as Seatbelt cameras lead to 60 per cent drop in fines but passengers’ poor seatbelt habits persist