Warning issued to Aussie motorists – as change comes into force today

Drivers on New South Wales roads have been warned about mobile phone detection cameras now being used to catch another offence – and there will be no ‘grace period’ for those caught and fined for a breach.  

The state-wide change on July 1 will see the cameras also used to detect when a driver or passenger isn’t wearing their seatbelt correctly.

Motorists were urged by the NSW Government to prepare for the change as there will be no adjustment period for drivers once the cameras start detecting ‘non-compliance’ on wearing seatbelts.

A driver can be fined $387 and receive three demerit points if they or their passenger don’t have their seatbelt on.

That fine escalates to $1,245 and six demerit points if three or more passengers are found improperly unrestrained.

The state government announced the upgrade in November as part of the 2026 Road Safety Plan in an attempt to minimise deaths on the state’s roads.

Between 2018 and 2022, more than 140 people died on NSW roads in crashes where people were not wearing a seatbelt. 

The NSW Minister for Roads, John Graham, said the upgrade was ‘simple’ as statistics revealed those wearing seatbelts survived crashes twice as often.

‘To activate seatbelt enforcement by the mobile phone detection cameras is a significant step towards reducing needless road trauma,’ he said.

Mr Graham praised the ‘vast majority’ of motorists who properly use their seatbelts but warned those that don’t that they could be fined.

‘Despite five decades of enforcement and public awareness campaigns, more than 10,000 people a year are still fined by the NSW Police for not wearing a seatbelt,’ he said.

‘I urge all drivers and passengers to buckle up properly each time they are in a vehicle. It’s a simple action and it just may save your life.’

Minister for Regional Roads and Transport, Jenny Aitchison, added that the upgrade would force motorists to wear their seatbelt and ‘save lives’.

‘More than 84 per cent of fatalities and two-thirds of serious injuries where people are not wearing seatbelts occur on country roads,’ Ms Aitchison said.

‘Don’t speed, don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, don’t drive tired, don’t use your mobile phone when driving, and always wear a seatbelt.

‘It’s a small action that can make a big difference in preventing injuries and saving lives.’

About 29 drivers and passengers are killed and 76 are seriously injured in NSW while not wearing a seatbelt every year.

Police will continue to enforce seatbelt regulations after the change.

The NSW Government also pledged every dollar made from the upgrade to mobile phone cameras would be put back into road safety campaigns.

The same practice is already in place for revenue made through camera-based fines such as speed, red light and average speed cameras.

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