The number of seal belt offences around Bathurst has dropped marginally in recent months according to the latest State Revenue Office statistics, with numbers also revealing a significant upswing in the western reaches of the region.
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The figures show 138 seat belt related infringements worth a collective total of just under $50,000 have been recorded in the Chifley Police District since the beginning of the financial year, with the dataset complete until January 31.
They number of infringements handed out has largely increased month-to-month as motorists returned to the road following coronavirus lockdowns, however the average of 19.71 per month still compares favourably to the 12 months prior.
In the previous financial year there was a total of 361 infringements recorded collectively worth almost $125,000, with the average mark per month sitting slightly higher at 30.66.
That decline could be the result of a number of factors, particularly capacity limitations at last October's Bathurst 1000, with only 4000 fans permitted each day compared to around 50,000 welcomed per day in 2019.
The figures show a similar, albeit far more dramatic downward trend in Orange and surrounding areas, with fewer infringements recorded in the Central West PD catchment.
The latest State Revenue Office numbers show an average of 9.71 offences per month across the Orange region compared to 11.41 in the previous year, with a total of 68 infringements worth almost $25,000 recorded since July last year.
Out west, however, the number of recorded seat belt infringements has increased.
In the Orana Mid-Western PD catchment the figures show 222 seat belt offences recorded at 31.71 per month compared to 26.91 from the 12 months prior, when a total of 323 were reported.
Should that trend continue through the final five months of the current financial year, it would potentially mark a yearly increase of 17 per cent.
Macquarie Sector Traffic Inspector, Chief Inspector Simon Maund, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said, following the conclusion of Operation TRANCE earlier this year, seat belt offences are something police continue to target.
"Two thirds of all fatalities occur on country roads (and) police will continue to target drivers who speed but will also be looking to target drink driving, people not wearing a seatbelt, fatigue, people who are drug impaired - any other risk taking behaviours that will contribute to road trauma," he said.
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