NRMA pushes for penalty change as seatbelt offences skyrocket in NSW

Seatbelt fines have surged in one state, with almost nine in 10 offences involving motorists or passengers wearing their restraints incorrectly rather than not wearing them at all.

New figures from the NRMA show 126,728 seatbelt infringements were issued in NSW during the 2024-25 financial year, after AI-powered cameras were introduced across the state.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: NSW seatbelt fines surge 2400 percent with AI cameras

More than 88 per cent of the fines, or 111,521, were for incorrect seatbelt use.

Just under 12 per cent were issued to people who were not wearing a seatbelt at all.

“Seatbelts have protected road users for more than 50 years, but they only work when worn correctly,” an NRMA statement said.

“New enforcement technology has revealed that incorrect seatbelt use is widespread, particularly among passengers.”

The number of fines jumped 2357 per cent from the previous year, with 132,755 infringements recorded after the cameras were introduced.

A seatbelt offence can attract a fine of about $400 and three demerit points.

The fines generated about $50 million for the NSW Government , which the government says is reinvested into road safety programs.

But the NRMA says the figures show there is still confusion about how seatbelts should be worn.

Its new Buckle Up Right report surveyed 1007 NSW residents and found 16 per cent of motorists did not always wear their seatbelts correctly.

Almost 40 per cent did not know whether the driver or passenger receives a camera-detected fine when a passenger is caught without a properly worn seatbelt.

Passengers were responsible for 62 per cent of the offences recorded in the report.