- Seatbelt offences have dropped by more than 85 per cent since safety cameras were rolled out in February 2025
- Mobile phone offences have also dropped by 88 per cent since February 2025
- Cameras have proven to be extremely effective in detecting and changing unlawful driver and passenger behaviour
- Safety cameras are about saving lives and changing behaviour to ensure Western Australians are safe on roads across the State
The Cook Labor Government's safety cameras have proven to be extremely effective with new statistics revealing driver and passenger behaviour has dramatically changed.
Since the safety cameras were rolled out in February 2025, seatbelt offences have dropped by 85 per cent, mobile phone offences have dropped by 88 per cent, and speeding has improved, falling by 51 per cent.
There has also been a 59 per cent improvement in seatbelt and mobile phone offending within the first month after enforcement commenced in October 2025.
These new figures show a significant change in driver behaviour in a relatively short period of time, providing new insights into driver and passenger behaviour, that has never been able to be captured at scale before.
Since enforcement started on 8 October 2025, 243,382 seatbelt, mobile phone, and speeding offences have been detected, while 60,200 seatbelt infringements have been issued.
The new safety cameras have been operating since 8 October following an eight-month warning period, which included caution notices and education campaigns before the cameras went live to allow the community time to adjust and understand these safety cameras are designed to save lives.
New fixed safety cameras have been installed on the Mitchell Freeway near Vincent Street. These cameras will soon be ready to detect seatbelt, mobile phone, and speeding offences in addition to the existing fixed safety cameras on the Kwinana Freeway.
As part of the commitment to education, there will be a six-month caution period from 1 June to 30 November for the Mitchell Freeway cameras. During this time, drivers detected not wearing a seatbelt or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt, or using a mobile phone, will receive a caution notice.
The Road Safety Commission is expanding road safety and education campaigns focusing on driver behaviour resulting in death or serious behaviour including the second round of Caught in a Flash, focusing on incorrect use of seatbelts and mobile phones, and a recent campaign with Royal Perth Hospital highlighting the very real consequences of not wearing a seatbelt correctly.
As stated by Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby:
"The Cook Labor Government is seeing a clear improvement in driver behaviour with more Western Australians doing the right thing, making our roads safer.
"Wearing a seatbelt is a simple task that is an effective way to protect yourself on our roads, and if you don't wear a seatbelt correctly or at all, it can have devastating consequences.
"The results from these safety cameras so far are clear - they're saving lives and changing behaviour, strengthening our government's commitment to keeping our State's growing community safe.
"But I am stunned by the activities captured through these safety cameras from a small proportion of drivers who still bare no regard for safety.
"It's obvious some drivers treat their car like a loungeroom - your vehicle is absolutely not a couch where drivers and passengers can sit back, relax, put your feet up, and have a drink."
