The little-known road trip error that could cop you a $410 fine

“Is there anything we’re not being fined for??” Do you do this? 

If you’re planning on heading on a long road trip before the summer ends, you may want to schedule in a few more rest stops.

NSW Road Safety has announced that they’re cracking down on a rule that, chances are, you don’t even know about, and it could cost you a $410 fine.

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Image: Facebook / NSW Road Safety.

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Be careful!

NSW Road Safety has taken to Facebook sharing a reminder about a common mistake made on the road.

“If you're taking a nap in the passenger seat this summer, make sure your belt stays low across your hips with the sash firmly across your chest and mid shoulder,” the post said.

“We know it's tempting to recline your seat on a long drive, but doing so can mean your seatbelt isn't adjusted properly.”

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“It seems a little bit mad”

The news has officially made it to TikTok thanks to @hayder_legal, who shared the reminder to his followers.

“Drivers in New South Wales are being warned that they could be fined $410 if their passenger has reclined the seat in order to sleep, even if they have their seatbelt on,” he said.

“The argument is that by reclining their seats, there’s too much of a gap between the seatbelt restraint and where their chest is, and this amounts to a seatbelt being worn incorrectly, meaning that the driver of the car at the time is going to be charged $410.”

As for his take, he said he thinks it all feels a little silly.

“Personally, to me, it seems a little bit mad, especially if you’re going on those long road trips, and there’s two people, and one person might be resting whilst the other person is driving,” he said.

@hayder_legal

Drivers in NSW beware, reclining your passenger seat might result in a hefty fine #driving #laws #nsw #legal

♬ original sound - hayder_legal

“Is there anything we’re not being fined for?”

Commenters on the video were fuming with the idea.

“Might as well charge us to breathe too,” one person said.

“Is there anything we’re not being fined for??” said another.

“omg that's ridiculous,” a third agreed.

How far is too far?

Some, though, had a few more questions about the specifics of the rule.

“at what point is the seat too reclined? what metric are they using to measure this?” said one commenter on the video.

And it seems the answer is - there isn’t one.

All of Australia’s states and territories have some kind of rule around ensuring a seatbelt is worn correctly (and in Queensland, a mistake could cost you over $1000), although no specific measurement exists regarding what’s correct and what isn’t.

In New South Wales, there’s a rule that specifies that the seat can’t be reclined in a way that obstructs the view of the driver, but otherwise, it’s best to make sure that the seatbelt is touching your chest at all times - just to be sure.

Originally published as The little-known road trip error that could cop you a $410 fine