SHOCK FIGURES: Passengers cop more seatbelt fines than drivers

Idiotic passengers are copping even more fines than drivers for not wearing seatbelts or properly restraining themselves, new figures reveal.

Idiotic passengers are copping even more fines than drivers for not wearing seatbelts or properly restraining themselves, new figures reveal.

Transport and Main Roads figures show there were 15,605 seatbelt fines for motorists and 18,171 for front-front seat passengers, captured on mobile phone and seatbelt cameras which since enforcement began in November.

A passenger captured by new seatbelt cameras.

There was also 82,182 mobile phone offences in this period.

With an alarming 33,000 seatbelt fines for motorists and passengers in just eight months, the pain is set to worsen for lazy motorists as the seatbelt fine will more than double from $413 and three demerit points to $1078 and four points from Friday.

Images provided to The Courier-Mail show drivers wearing belts incorrectly, many under their shoulder.

A motorist captured by new seatbelt cameras.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said seatbelts saved lives and must be worn correctly.

“It’s alarming the number of people we’re seeing caught by our mobile phone and seatbelt cameras, especially for not wearing a seatbelt correctly,” Mr Bailey said.

“To think seatbelts have been mandatory for 50 years, and more than 33,000 people have been caught doing the wrong thing is outrageous.

“Shockingly, more passengers were caught not wearing a seatbelt which serves as a reminder to drivers that they are responsible for ensuring everyone in the car is belted in correctly.”

Mr Bailey said he received fatal crash reports and in “far too many instances” they were caused by people doing the wrong thing.

“All too often it’s that last line of defence – the seatbelt – that isn’t buckled in,” he said.

“That’s why we are increasing the penalty for seatbelt offences to match the existing mobile phone penalty to reflect just how seriously we are taking this.

“The message is clear – If it’s not on, it can’t save you.”

Transport and Main Roads general manager of land transport and safety regulation, Andrew Mahon, said fines were imposed if belts were not worn correctly. They should be worn over the shoulder, across the chest and waist and be buckled up low on the hip.

“Drivers are responsible for ensuring every passenger, regardless of age, wears a properly fitted seatbelt or child restraint,” he said.

“We are seeing too many people wearing their seatbelt sashes under the arm or behind their bodies – this is incorrect and unsafe and carries the same fine as not wearing your seatbelt at all.”
Research had shown underarm use of shoulder belts could cause fatal injuries in otherwise survivable crashes, had the belt been worn correctly.

Mr Bailey said money from camera-detected offences was reinvested in road safety initiatives.