Aussies warned of 'deadly mistake' on roads as drivers cop $3.3 million in fines

Drivers in one Aussie state have copped a stern warning after racking up a whopping $3.3 million in fines in a span of just months. Alarming new data reveals that more than 8,500 Victorians were caught not wearing a seatbelt from July 1 to September 30, with the 'deadly mistake' costing each rule-breaking motorist $395 and three demerit points.
Failing to buckle up is not only a costly lesson, but could cost someone their life, RACV Head of Policy James Williams reminded drivers on Tuesday. So far this year 118 drivers have died on roads across the state — a more than 8 per cent increase.
'Seatbelts save lives. Choosing not to wear one puts you, your passengers, and other road users at risk,' Williams said. 'Crashes can happen anytime, anywhere – and the consequences of not being restrained can be fatal.'
Concerningly, that is not the only lapse in judgement Victorians are making while behind the wheel, with additional 'eye-opening' data naming and shaming the Aussie cities and states where drivers are most likely to be busted reaching for their phone.
Victoria and Western Australia rank among the worst states for phone use while driving, with motorists reaching for their mobiles once every six trips on average, car insurance company ROLLiN revealed after analysing over 18 million kilometres of driving data from its Safe 'n Save app.
On the other hand, South Australian drivers are the most well-behaved. 'Drivers in Adelaide tend to use their phones less while driving, which may be for a range of reasons, including less congested or more predictable traffic, which could make it easier to stay focused and to keep their hands on the wheel and not on their phones,' Brendan Griffiths, ROLLiN's executive manager, told Yahoo News.
Surprisingly, despite having the toughest penalty in the country for mobile phone use — a $1,209 fine and four demerit points — Queensland ranked joint second alongside those living in NSW and the ACT.
The penalty in the Sunshine State far exceeds any other, with NSW drivers made to pay $410, while in Victoria it's $593 if you're caught using a mobile phone while driving. In SA, motorists face a $556 fine and three demerit points.
In terms of cities, drivers in Cairns and the NSW Central Coast are the worst offenders for phone use. Queensland's Sunshine Coast takes the third spot, followed by Geelong and Melbourne. Wollongong residents are the least likely to use their mobiles.
📸 Drivers hit with $30 million in fines after new roadside cameras
🚘 Authorities quietly admit to flaws with phone and seatbelt cameras
🚙 Simple $410 mistake catching out Aussies
Griffiths told Yahoo that while more than 50 per cent of the company's customers are achieving a safe driving score, there is still room for improvement.
'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,' he said. '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.'
Griffiths added that the new data 'isn't just numbers', it shows real driver behaviours that impact safety, including speed and breaking harshly. 'Seeing these patterns can be a real eye-opener and help to motivate drivers to improve their driving behaviours. By sharing these insights clearly, we're trying to help make the roads safer for all Australians.'
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