New Road Safety Regulations

As noted by the Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP, “…country residents make up one-third of the NSW population, two thirds of all fatalities happen on country roads”. Motorists and their passengers are advised to fasten their seatbelts or face penalties, as mobile phone detection cameras will start enforcing seatbelt violations which began on Monday, July 1.

New Regulations Overview:

To address road safety and reduce fatalities, the NSW Government has introduced new measures. From Monday, any driver or passenger caught by these cameras not wearing a seatbelt or wearing it improperly will face fines of up to $410 and a minimum of three demerit points. There will be no grace period for warnings; penalties will be issued from the outset. Transport for NSW and Revenue NSW will monitor the enforcement of seatbelt regulations via cameras with daily oversight to address any issues that arise.

Seatbelt enforcement is not the only form of new road safety incentives:

• Foreign License Requirement: Eliminating a loophole that requires all motorists with a foreign licence to obtain a NSW licence within six months;
• Demerit Points Return Trial: The demerit points return trial, which has rewarded over 1.2 million drivers with a clean driving record during the initial 12-month period ending 16 January 2024;
• Roadside Speed Camera Expansion: The number of mobile speed camera sites will be doubled, with 2,700 new locations added while maintaining current enforcement hours.
• Road Safety Forum: New South Wales will host its first Road Safety Forum, featuring both international and local experts.

For further information, please consult the NSW Government media release page.

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