New South Wales’ most common driving offences caught on camera
Cameras are catching more New South Wales drivers than ever doing the wrong thing and putting other road users at risk – and it’s not just for speeding.
From seatbelts to mobile phones, the latest figures show worrying signs that some motorists are slipping on the basics of road safety.
According to NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury, the new figures are a timely reminder for motorists to remain vigilant whenever they are behind the wheel.
“Looking at the latest driving offence numbers and the rising road toll, it’s very worrying - particularly when we look at how many people are not wearing seatbelts and how many are using their phones illegally,” said Khoury.
"This data is a timely reminder for NRMA members and road users in general to take basic measures behind the wheel that keep them and everyone else on the road safe.
“We’re now heading into summer, there’s still three-and-a-half months left in 2025. We want to reverse the growing road toll, particularly heading into the holiday season. This is a timely reminder to slow down, put the phone away while driving, and put on seatbelts and ensure your passengers have put on their seatbelts – wearing them correctly, as we know that many fines are the result of improper seatbelt use.”
What is the most common road offence detected by cameras?
Speeding does still top the charts, with fixed digital and red-light cameras detecting nearly 560,000 offences in the first seven months of 2025. But what’s raising eyebrows among safety experts is the sharp rise in seatbelt breaches – owed in part to the introduction of new cameras driven by artificial intelligence, or AI.
The introduction of said seatbelt detection cameras 12 months ago has resulted in a 175 per cent increase in offences compared to the same period last year.
Despite the increase in infringement detection, the numbers signal that many drivers and passengers are still putting themselves and others at unnecessary risk on the road.
How many drivers were fined for speeding?
Speeding accounts for the largest share of driving offences, with more than 563,000 notices costing $190 million issued so far in 2025. This includes offences captured by fixed digital speed cameras, red-light speed cameras, and for 2025, includes the rollout of average speed camera trials for light vehicles at two locations.
While a slight dip (from 584,000 overall for the same period in 2024), the numbers still highlight that speeding continues to be a common habit on NSW roads, even after years of enforcement and awareness efforts.
How many drivers were fined for mobile phone use?
Mobile phone offences are also adding significantly to the state’s revenue bucket to the tune of $40 million, with more than 80,000 drivers caught on camera between January and July 2025.
While the overall number has dipped from more than 102,000 for the same period in 2024, the figures highlight how widespread phone use behind the wheel remains.
READ MORE: Check here for how to use a mobile phone legally while driving.
How many drivers were fined for not wearing seatbelts properly?
Seatbelt infringements have surged to almost 70,000 to the end of July 2025, costing drivers $32 million in fines.
It’s also a sharp jump from around 28,000 for the same period in 2024, due to the rollout of 'smart' mobile phone detection cameras.
Penalties for improper seatbelt use detected by cameras have been in effect since 1 July 2024. Credit: Transport NSW
The Guardian reports that for 88 per cent of seatbelt infringements, occupants were wearing seatbelts but incorrectly, pointing to the need for better understanding around how to wear your seatbelt correctly.
Authorities warn that failing to use a seatbelt correctly – even on short journeys – greatly increases the risk of death or serious injury in a crash. By wearing a seatbelt, vehicle occupants are twice as likely to survive, and in the case of rollover crashes, the risk of fatal injuries are reduced by 74 per cent, according to data released by the NSW government.
Are these offences part of a longer-term trend?
The longer-term picture also shows shifting patterns. Speeding detections have remained stubbornly high over the past five years, peaking at more than $400 million worth of fines in the 2024-2025 financial year, with fluctuations depending on camera rollouts and enforcement efforts.
Seatbelt fines, on the other hand, have only recently escalated at this scale – a sign that the technology to catch offenders is bedding in, but also that basic compliance is lacking.
Mobile phone offences spiked sharply when camera programs were first introduced, easing as awareness grew, but the current figures suggest a gradual decline rather than any fast behavioural change.
What new fines and enforcement measures were introduced in 2025?
The tougher enforcement regime in 2025 is also part of the story. New fines introduced this year mean drivers face steeper penalties for common offences, adding extra sting to lapses in judgement.
At the same time, average speed cameras have begun capturing offences for light vehicles, closing a long-standing gap in enforcement, and targeting those who speed up once past fixed cameras.
Both measures signal a stronger focus on behaviour that contributes most to crashes, and a warning that the net for unsafe driving is tightening.
How much revenue has been raised from road fines in 2025?
Together, these infringements have added up to $275 million in fines so far this year - money that ultimately reflects the scale of risky choices still being made on the road.
Khoury supported the introduction of new enforcement technologies, citing that their implementation freed up police to concentrate on other important in-person enforcement.
“The new tech being used to capture these seatbelt and mobile phone offences is really useful,” he said.
“It’s freeing up police numbers to focus on other behaviours on the road, and that’s why the NRMA supports this technology. We do so in the knowledge that if we’re going to reverse the road toll, in-person police enforcement has to be the tip of the spear. We need to ensure we’re putting as much resource into supporting police with crucial in-person enforcement work – and this technology allows that.”
