Most of us learn early on that one of the most basic and essential road safety habits is always buckling up before driving. This simple action has been proven repeatedly to save lives and reduce serious injuries in the event of a crash.
Yet, in a worrying trend, thousands are being caught flouting this life-saving rule—and it’s costing them dearly.
Between July and September alone, more than 8,500 drivers in Victoria were fined $395 and given three demerit points for not wearing a seatbelt.
That’s a staggering $3.3 million in fines in just three months—and, more importantly, a sign that too many Australians still take unnecessary risks on the road.
Why are so many people still making this ‘deadly mistake’? According to James Williams, head of policy at RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Victoria), the consequences go far beyond a lighter wallet.
‘Seatbelts save lives. Choosing not to wear one puts you, your passengers, and other road users at risk,’ he said. ‘Crashes can happen anytime, anywhere—and the consequences of not being restrained can be fatal.’
The statistics back him up. So far this year, 118 drivers have lost their lives on Victorian roads—an increase of more than 8 per cent compared to last year.
But seatbelts aren’t the only road rule being ignored. New data from car insurer ROLLiN has revealed another alarming trend: Australians are still glued to their phones while driving, despite the hefty penalties.
After analysing over 18 million kilometres of driving data from its Safe ‘n Save app, ROLLiN found that drivers in Victoria and Western Australia are among the worst offenders, reaching for their phones once every six trips on average.
It’s not just a city problem, either. While South Australians are the most disciplined regarding phone use behind the wheel, drivers in Cairns, the New South Wales (NSW) Central Coast, and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are the most likely to be caught out.
Even in Queensland, where the penalty for using your phone while driving is a whopping $1,209 and four demerit points—the toughest in the country—drivers are still taking the risk. The fine is $410 in NSW, $593 in Victoria, and $556 in South Australia.
So why do so many Australians continue to take these risks? Brendan Griffiths, executive manager at ROLLiN, said it’s often a case of complacency.
‘People might think it’s okay to use their phone on quiet roads or during longer drives without realising how risky it is or how far they’re travelling while they are distracted,’ he explained.
‘Unfortunately, the unsafe driver behaviour we consistently detect through our Safe ‘n Save app is phone use, which ultimately results in distracted driving and the risk of an accident.’
The data isn’t just about fines and statistics—it’s about real lives and consequences. Distracted driving, whether from not wearing a seatbelt or using a phone, increases the risk of serious injury or death for everyone on the road.
And with more than 50 per cent of ROLLiN’s customers achieving a safe driving score, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
Remember, these rules aren’t just about avoiding fines—they’re about keeping you and everyone else on the road safe.
Have you ever been caught out by a road rule you thought you knew? Or do you have a tip for staying focused behind the wheel? Share your stories and advice in the comments below—your experience could help keep someone else safe on the road.
Also read: New $1,600 fine hits drivers—are you ready for the road rule shake-up?
you would think the law is something new it aint that hard to buckle up
Fair point, John! Especially when it’s been said time and time again it could help save lives…
Maybe the car manufacturers should modify the start system on a vehicle, so it won’t start unless the seat belt is connected and stays connected whilst driving.
The law about Buckling up, has been around since the mid 60’s, around 60 Years !!!!