Buckle up: NSW seatbelt offences slashed under Minns Labor Government safety drive
Saturday, 19 July 2025
The Minns Labor Government’s safety drive on seatbelt non-compliance is working, with a 60 per cent drop in offences since camera enforcement and fines were introduced 12 months ago.
In that time, 140 million vehicles have been checked, with over 99 per cent of drivers and passengers doing the right thing.
But camera images collected since its introduction have also revealed that some 88 per cent of fines related to incorrect seatbelt use, with nearly two-thirds of these fines issued to drivers whose passengers were not buckled up properly.
Wearing a seatbelt correctly doubles the chances of surviving a crash and reduces the risk of serious injury, and the Minns Labor Government is calling on NSW drivers to follow the law and wear their seatbelts properly.
In 2024, 34 people died on NSW roads while not wearing a seatbelt. So far this year, it’s another 11 lives. Over five years, 163 people have died not wearing a seatbelt, with 85 per cent of those deaths in regional NSW.
While progress is being made, more than 200 fatalities have been recorded on NSW roads this year – that’s one person a day dying on our roads.
The seatbelt enforcement program is just one of several new measures introduced by the Minns Labor Government to stop people dying on NSW roads.
Other initiatives include average speed camera trials for light vehicles, 2,700 additional mobile speed camera enforcement sites and reforms through the Demerit Point Integrity Taskforce.
Motorists are reminded that proper seatbelt use means wearing the lap belt low and firm across the hips, with the sash crossing the chest and mid-shoulder – never under the arm.
Each offence attracts a $423 fine and three demerit points, or six during double demerit periods. Every dollar raised through seatbelt cameras is reinvested directly into road safety improvements.
These fines are completely avoidable if drivers and their passengers are doing the right thing.
The success of the data-driven camera program is a clear demonstration of the Government’s commitment to building a better NSW, combining enforcement, education and investment to help keep NSW families and communities safe on the road.
Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
“The Minns Labor Government introduced seatbelt enforcement cameras in July 2024 to encourage all road users to buckle up correctly every time they get in a vehicle, and as Minister I am pleased to see such significant improvement in such a short timeframe. Over 140 million vehicles have been monitored since this program launched, with well over 99% of motorists demonstrating compliance.
“Some of the images collected are truly shocking, including multiple people in the same seatbelt or no seatbelt at all.
“While the improvement in non-compliance is encouraging, we’re witnessing far too many offences involving passengers wearing seatbelts incorrectly, with approximately 75,000 recorded offences over the past year.
“Whenever you enter a vehicle, correctly securing your seatbelt should be instinctive, whether you’re driving or a passenger. Just like when you’re on an aeroplane, you need to have your seatbelt low and tight in the lap section. In the car, the sash should go from the top of your shoulder to your hip.
“Everyone needs to wear a seatbelt and if you have a genuine medical reason not to, you need a letter from your doctor.
“Seatbelts save lives and not wearing one is a gamble, not just for your own life but for every road user. It’s essential that you not only wear your seatbelt but wear it correctly.”
