AI caught 126,000 seatbelt offences in a year. NRMA wants to change how drivers pay for it
Key takeaways
- NSW seatbelt fines have jumped 2,357% in a year to 132,755, after AI cameras began detecting offences.
- Seatbelt offences carry a roughly $400 fine and three demerit points. However, passengers were responsible for 62% of the offences.
- In NSW, a seatbelt offence can drive up the cost of your CTP, and a licence suspension from too many points can see you classed as a high-risk driver in the eyes of your car insurer.
New figures from the NRMA's Buckle Up Right Report reportedly found 132,755 seatbelt infringements were issued in NSW during the 2024–25 financial year, a 2,357% jump on the year before, after AI-powered cameras were rolled out across the state.
Of the camera-detected fines, 88% were for wearing a seatbelt incorrectly, such as running the strap under the arm instead of across the chest, rather than not wearing one at all.
Surprisingly, passengers made up 62% of the offences in the NRMA's report. However, under current NSW rules the camera-detected fine goes to the driver, not the passenger.
And NRMA has pushed for that to change.
NRMA wants to give drivers the power to nominate the offending passengers to take ownership of the offence.
"Drivers nominating adult passengers who break the law ensures the penalty lands with the person committing the crime because nobody should lose their licence for an offence committed by someone else," NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said.
"After all, drivers should be focused on the road ahead of them."
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Khoury explained two of the biggest culprits were older drivers and pregnant women, with cushions and other devices potentially changing where a seatbelt sits.
"We surveyed 200 women who were either pregnant or had been pregnant within a 12-month period and found that almost a quarter were not wearing seatbelts or weren't wearing them correctly, because it was either uncomfortable or they were afraid that it would hurt them or hurt their baby," he said.
What a seatbelt fine could do to your car insurance premium
Any driver familiar with the process of getting a quote online knows car insurers do a deep dive into their driving history.
Many insurers ask about your driving history or the number of demerit points you have when you take out or renew a policy.
And a record of offences can mark you as a higher-risk driver, which can mean a higher premium or excess.
So, take this as another reason to buckle up and drive safe the next time you get behind the wheel.
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