New data released today has shown a concerning spike in seatbelt-related offences during busy school holiday periods for drivers and passengers wearing their seatbelt incorrectly.

With double demerits coming into force from Thursday, 17 April to Monday, 21 April inclusive, and many families across New South Wales planning trips to visit loved ones over the long weekend, the NSW Government is reminding drivers to travel safely.

Sadly, in 2025, there have already been 98 fatalities on New South Wales Roads. In 2024, 35 people died on New South Wales roads while not wearing an available seatbelt.

This data shines a light on a concerning trend over periods that should be joyous times for people to travel safely and spend time with their loved ones.

Over the peak summer holidays period, from December, 24th 2024 to January, 5th 2025, there was an alarming 7,000 seatbelt offences recorded across the state, with Christmas Day seeing one in every 559 drivers issued a penalty notice for a seatbelt offence. Further, over the Australia Day long weekend, there were over 1,300 seatbelt offences recorded.

With school holidays underway for families across New South Wales, and both Easter and ANZAC Day long weekends approaching, the Government is urgently reminding drivers that seatbelts save lives, and are a legal requirement for all drivers and passengers across the state.

As the state government continues work to make the roads safer, seatbelt enforcement has been significantly increased, with mobile phone cameras beginning to monitor seatbelt compliance in July 2024. 

Since this program began over 105 million vehicles have been checked, with 87 per cent of all penalties issued for incorrect use of a seatbelt, which attracts a $410 fine and three demerit points, or six demerit points during double demerit periods including the upcoming long weekends.

Every single dollar raised by seatbelt cameras is invested directly back into road safety.

This long weekend New South Wales drivers are being called to ensure they play their part in making New South Wales roads safer and remember:

• Seat belts save lives:
  • Seatbelts double the chance of survival and reduce the risk of injury in a road crash. Drivers and passengers must all be wearing seatbelts correctly.
• Speeding kills:
  • Speeding is the number one killer on New South Wales roads, know the road rules and follow them.
• Never text while driving:
  • Using a mobile phone while driving affects your attention and response time. This increases your chance of crashing.
• Never drive when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Drink and drug driving are major contributors to death on NSW roads. Alcohol affects your driving, putting your safety and the safety of your passengers and other road users at risk. Never get behind the wheel if you're affected by illicit drugs or alcohol.
• Do not drive if you are fatigued:
  • Fatigue kills. Each year, it accounts for around 20% of road deaths in New South Wales. If you are driving and feel fatigued, stop, revive, survive. 

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said, “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.

“I know the impact every death and serious injury on our roads has, you don’t need to meet with families of victims and survivors to begin to understand what effect that has on our communities.

“Motorists in NSW have had more than 50 years to get used to the concept of wearing a seatbelt. It’s been compulsory to do so in our state since 1971.

“Unlawful, lazy and life-risking behaviour by drivers, as well as passengers, is still far too common when it comes to wearing these restraints properly, if at all.

“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.

“There’s nothing worse than losing a life on our roads and if you can’t buckle up this double demerit period you’ll risk being issued six demerit points, nearly half a NSW unrestricted licence, and a $410 fine.”

Transport for NSW Secretary, Josh Murray said, ,“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.

“I know during busy holiday periods - when trying to get the kids and other passengers in the car and get on the road, it can be a juggle, but it’s really important that drivers aren’t being careless when it comes to making sure their children and other passengers know how to wear their seatbelts correctly.

“It’s great to see an improvement in compliance since the start of our enforcement program, with only one in every 1,452 drivers checked issued a penalty for a seatbelt offence for themselves and/or their passengers in the last week of March. However, I continue to urge people to buckle up correctly and to make sure their passengers are also all wearing their seatbelts correctly."