Authorities are urging drivers and passengers to use a seatbelt, amid a rise in fines and enforcement designed to reduce the road toll. It comes as a new study shows incorrect seatbelt use is contributing to road deaths.

Council of the City of Sydney

Australian authorities are emphasizing the importance of proper seatbelt use, as incorrect usage continues to contribute significantly to road fatalities. Last year, Queensland recorded over 50 deaths due to improper seatbelt use, with other states also reporting concerning figures. Despite long-standing public safety campaigns, recent data shows that while seatbelt compliance has improved by 60% in New South Wales, a large proportion of infringements still relate to incorrect usage.

To address the issue, New South Wales has expanded its use of autonomous camera technology to detect seatbelt offences, resulting in fines and demerit points for non-compliance. Authorities urge both drivers and passengers to ensure seatbelts are correctly fastened, noting that this simple action can double survival chances in an accident.

Holiday warning for drivers to buckle up

just a simple click. But many Australians are failing to buckle up when they get behind the wheel and it's making incorrect seatbelt usage a contributor to the country's road toll. Last year Queensland recorded the highest number with over 50 deaths as a result of incorrect usage. In New South Wales that figure was 34, Victoria 18 and West Australia 20. The road toll this year is already too high. Putting on your seatbelt is a very small step to helping to reduce that road toll. Australians have been told to buckle up for more than 50 years with seatbelts doubling the chances of survival in an accident. And while drivers seem to have got the message, the NRMA says passengers need to be reminded too. As a driver you've got to put your seatbelts on first and we strongly encourage you then to check that the passengers in your vehicle also have got their seatbelts on. New South Wales last year announced a crackdown on improper usage by expanding safety cameras to include seatbelt offences. We introduced the autonomous seatbelt camera detection technology so that uses the same cameras we use to detect mobile phone usage. Cameras like this one are set up across New South Wales to catch motorists who aren't buckling up with drivers facing a fine of $423 and the loss of three demerit points. New data from the state government has found that over the last 12 months seatbelt compliance has improved by 60%. Even so, 88% of all infringements issued were related to incorrect usage. We have to make this about safety. I'd love it if we got no fine. Already this year, 11 people have died on the state's roads while not wearing seatbelts. The government says that's too many. Maybe just that articulation, say hey everyone got their seatbelts on, that might be the thing that means the difference between life and death. So don't forget to click, clack, front and back. Elliot Hasty, 10 News.

A boat full of tourists capsized during a storm in one of the country's most iconic tourist destinations, leaving at least 34 dead and eight missing. Rescue efforts continue as a new tropical storm approaches.

Hạ Long Bay

Dozens drown after tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay

United States President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owners, including Rupert Murdoch over the publication of a bombshell report on the president’s friendship with the infamous high-society sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

New York

Trump sues Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch over Epstein story

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As Suwayda

Middle East Conflict

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Washington

Trump sues WSJ publisher, Rupert Murdoch over Epstein letter story

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Yulia Svyrydenko takes charge as Ukraine's new prime minister

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Rio de Janeiro

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Los Angeles

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London

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Moscow

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Jerusalem

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Tennessee

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Ahmedabad

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Damascus

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Mexico City

Global Tariffs

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday (July 16) at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in what the U.S.-backed group said was a crowd surge instigated by armed agitators. This video contains graphic images.

Breakdown