Seatbelt fines soar: Queenslanders to cough up more for breaking road rules

Drivers caught speeding, running red lights or failing to buckle up will soon face massive fines in a new safety strategy, including fines of more than $1000 for not wearing a seatbelt.

Drivers caught speeding, running red lights or failing to buckle up will soon face heftier fines in a new safety strategy which has seatbelt stings soaring to more than $1000.

The State Government on Monday released its 10-year road safety strategy which Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey was aimed at reducing the number of lives lost.

It comes after a tragic start to the year with 81 lives lost on Queensland roads already.

“ … That’s 81 people who are missing from dinner tables around the state,” Mr Bailey said.

“Today we are reaffirming our commitment to zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2050 by cracking down on driver behaviour.”

Fines for failing to wear a seatbelt will increase from $413 to $1078, running a red light from $413 to $575, and speeding up to 10km/h over the limit has increased from $183 to $287.

Seatbelt detection cameras have caught almost 14,000 people not buckling up in the first four months of their inception and Mr Bailey said it was time to get tough.

“We make no apologies for being tough on this reckless and dangerous behaviour, just like we did for mobile phone offences,” he said.

“The message is simple, if you don’t want one of these fines, do the right thing on our roads.”

Mr Bailey said the penalty for not wearing a seatbelt or not wearing it properly would now align with the mobile phone penalty.

“Speeding, red-light and seatbelt offending are major contributors to a high level of road trauma,” he said.

“Speeding penalties will be increased to send a clear message that speeding, regardless of the level, is dangerous and will not be tolerated.”

The fines will be reinvested into road safety.

A Ride to Zero campaign will also be rolled out in collaboration with motorcycle groups and organisations that contribute to the development and implementation of community-led rider safety.

Mr Bailey said regional communities disproportionately shouldered the burden of lives lost, with over half of all road fatalities occurring on rural roads.

The State Government has subsequently developed resources specifically targeting regional and rural road safety.

Mr Bailey said the State Government remained committed to continued investment in foundational road safety measures, including infrastructure improvements and treatments, deterrents and enforcement.

“The Queensland road network and the communities it connects are vast and diverse, which is why we need to do more to get the road safety message across,” he said.

“That‘s why the strategy has a strong community focus, championing grassroots initiatives.”

Mr Bailey said the strategy would be delivered in three phases across 10 years, with each phase supported by an action plan.