The Telegraph reported on 4 August that in just three weeks, NSW's traffic cameras captured a large number of shocking offences and issued tens of thousands of fines totalling more than $4 million.
Since 1 July, authorities have issued a total of 11,400 fines totalling $4.7 million, more than 2.5 times what was expected. Captured photographs show multiple children in the passenger seat without seat belts, or babies in arms, as well as adults wearing seat belts in various improper ways.
(Image source: The Telegraph)
The number of drivers and passengers caught on camera not wearing seatbelts or not wearing them properly was unexpected by the state government. On July 1, authorities adjusted mobile phone capture cameras to capture seatbelt violations, and a total of 8.3 million vehicles have been tested so far.
(Image source: The Telegraph)
Of those, one out of every 700 vehicles was fined for seatbelt problems, a figure that was 2.5 times higher than the government expected.
The effectiveness of these cameras has been remarkable, and the number of tickets issued in three weeks has already exceeded the total number of seatbelt tickets issued by the police in all of 2023.
(Image source: The Telegraph)
If this trend continues, the number of fines issued will exceed 100,000 by the end of the financial year, which will generate about $41 million in revenue for the government. Seatbelt breaches will result in a $410 fine and 3 demerit points.
Roads Minister John Graham said the number of people not wearing seatbelts was surprising.
(Image source: The Telegraph)
"We know that there are a small percentage of drivers and passengers who do not wear seat belts, but the reality is worse than expected, and we must sound the alarm," he said. ”
"Traffic fatalities in NSW are on the rise, and wearing seatbelts can save many lives each year."