How NSW Cracks Down on Seatbelts

Newly released data has revealed a sharp rise in seatbelt offences during New South Wales' busiest holiday periods, prompting the Minns Labor Government to remind drivers about the life-saving importance of buckling up. With double demerits set to apply from Thursday 17 April to Monday 21 April 2025, authorities are urging everyone on the roads to make safety their top priority.

So far this year, 98 fatalities have been recorded on NSW roads. In 2024, 35 lives were lost in crashes where victims were not wearing a seatbelt.

The 2025 summer holiday period saw an alarming 7,000 seatbelt offences across the state, with Christmas Day alone recording one in every 559 drivers being fined for not wearing a seatbelt correctly. Over the Australia Day long weekend, more than 1,300 seatbelt offences were issued.

Increased Enforcement with Mobile Cameras

To address the growing concern, NSW has intensified seatbelt enforcement. Since July 2024, mobile phone detection cameras have also monitored seatbelt use. These cameras have checked over 105 million vehicles, with 87% of penalties issued for incorrect seatbelt usage.

Drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt properly face a $410 fine and three demerit points, which double to six demerit points during double demerit periods like the upcoming Easter and ANZAC Day long weekends.

All revenue collected from seatbelt cameras is directly reinvested into road safety initiatives.

Road Safety Reminders for Easter

As families travel across NSW this Easter, authorities are urging motorists to remember:

Seatbelts save lives: Buckling up doubles survival chances in a crash.
Speeding kills: Obey speed limits and drive to conditions.
Never text while driving: Stay focused to avoid crashes.
Never drive under the influence: Alcohol and drugs impair driving ability.
Don’t drive fatigued: Stop, revive, survive.

What Leaders Are Saying

“Road safety is what keeps me up at night and I won’t rest until we reduce the trauma on our roads. I am accountable for our state’s road toll but it is everyone’s responsibility to play their role.”

"Seatbelts save lives. Sounds catchy but it can’t catch on quick enough. Last year, one person died every ten days on NSW roads when they weren’t wearing a seatbelt.”
— Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison

“It’s concerning to see there has been some complacency during previous school holidays, especially for passengers wearing their seatbelts incorrectly. With the Easter long weekend and Anzac Day long weekend approaching we know our roads will be busy and I’m urging every driver to remain vigilant.”

“It’s great to see an improvement in compliance... However, I continue to urge people to buckle up correctly and to make sure their passengers are also all wearing their seatbelts correctly.”
— Transport for NSW Secretary, Josh Murray

Final Message to Drivers

Authorities stress that wearing a seatbelt correctly should be second nature. As holiday traffic increases, taking a few seconds to check that everyone is properly restrained could make the difference between life and death.

Stay safe, drive responsibly, and enjoy the Easter holidays.