More AI cameras on the way as 53,000 drivers fined for not wearing seatbelts correctly
More AI cameras are on the way for WA as new figures show nearly 300 drivers a day are being fined for someone not wearing a seatbelt properly in their car.
The high-tech safety cameras, which were introduced in October and issued 53,000 seatbelt tickets in the first six months, have caused controversy as hefty fines were issued for what some people claimed were minor seatbelt flap adjustments.
Sixty per cent of those who appealed their fines successfully had them overturned, but the Department for Transport said its data showed 99 per cent of infringements were issued correctly.
“The cameras have proven to be extremely effective in detecting and replacing the illegal driver.
passenger behavior,” a department spokesman said.
114,000 seatbelt warnings were issued during the eight-month mock ‘soft launch’ of the cameras before the breach period began; This number is more than double the actual fines issued since then.
Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the reduction was a sign the cameras were working.
“These new security cameras have actually changed behavior and I have no doubt that they are actually saving lives,” he told ABC Radio.
“When you look at the numbers, it is less than 4 percent. [of fines] The fact that it was withdrawn shows that the vast majority of sentences were correct. This also shows that 60 percent of those who addressed the issue and requested a review were successful. So it’s a good system. It’s a system that works.”
Whitby said he feels compassion for drivers who are fined because their passengers were the ones wearing their seat belts incorrectly.
“I have some sympathy for drivers, especially those who have to look at the front of the window rather than the side to see what their passengers are doing,” he said.
“That is why, at the end of last year, I asked the Commissioner for Road Safety to thoroughly examine all violations, not just in relation to safety cameras or seat belts, but he was also briefed to examine all violations.”
Whitby said it would take 2027 for the review of penalties to be completed.
“This is a huge study,” he said.
“We need to do this right. I want to do it right and I want to take into account the issues that are raised.”
Whitby added that more cameras will be rolled out in a “phased approach”.
“I think it’s very important to keep people informed, to make sure we have the resources to deal with breaches as they arise,” he said.
The Department of Transport said 5,237 violations were withdrawn on appeal in the last six months; WA Premier Roger Cook said this was a result of drivers being fined multiple times in quick succession before receiving an infringement notice and having a chance to correct their behaviour.
“People often get fined once, twice or three times without even knowing a fine has been issued in their name,” he said.
“Obviously, some elements of this will need to be calmed in the early days, but the police have operational oversight of this and I think they’re doing a good job of handling it.
“This is a reminder to everyone that you should not be distracted by your phone while driving, wear your seat belt properly and ensure everyone else in the vehicle also follows the rules of the road.”
Perth man Ross Taylor set up an advocacy group over the fines and told ABC Radio he felt the cameras were intended to generate revenue.
“Based on the case [authorities knew] “Approximately 100,000 people a year will be fined for seatbelt offences, saving the state government approximately $55 million,” he said.
“The bad news for the treasurer and the revenue was that of those 100,000 people, about 90,000 people were actually wearing their seat belts, and the only problem was that there was one passenger who was momentarily adjusting their belts.
“So the government had the opportunity to say right from the start that when these cameras went live, they were going to target people not wearing belts and not sending warnings or ignoring little things like belts. But that would reduce revenue from $50 million a year to about $8 million a year. That’s a huge dollar amount.”
A total of 184,232 fines have been issued since October for excessive speed, seat belt failure or distracted driving; This equates to approximately 100 fines per day.
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