Mobile and stationary cameras will now focus on people not wearing seatbelts correctly. Photo: NSW Government.
Wearing seatbelts in cars has been the law for 50 years, but at least 15 per cent of deaths on NSW roads every year still involve people not wearing one.
As of Monday 1 July, existing mobile and stationary cameras positioned across the NSW road network are ready to snap drivers and passengers flouting seatbelt laws.
NSW Roads Minister John Graham said it was horrifying that so many people died in road accidents because they weren’t wearing a seatbelt.
“To the vast majority of the 6.9 million drivers on NSW roads it will seem unthinkable that some fellow drivers still do not make the simplest and safest decision when getting in a car: putting on a seatbelt,” he said.
“The fact is that five decades since it became law, there are people still dying as a direct consequence of not wearing a seatbelt.
“Seatbelt cameras will help us get the message through to these drivers.
“World-first mobile phone detection cameras have had great success in changing that behaviour and we expect seatbelt cameras to do the same.”
There will be no grace period of warning letters for seatbelt offences, with fines now in place.
Fines of up to $410 and at least three demerit points will be issued to the driver if they or their passenger are caught by camera not wearing their seatbelt or not wearing it correctly.
The implementation of seatbelt enforcement via camera will be closely monitored by Transport for NSW and Revenue NSW staff as the program is rolled out, including daily monitoring to ensure that if any issues arise they are quickly identified and dealt with.
Original Article published by Jen White on Region Illawarra.
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