‘How you wear your seatbelt matters,’ that’s the message to drivers in Western Australia as part of a road safety campaign.
The Road Safety Commission has partnered with Royal Perth Hospital to deliver an extension of the Caught in a Flash 2026 campaign, reinforcing the importance of wearing a seatbelt correctly on every trip.
The campaign shows how something as simple as wearing a seatbelt incorrectly can significantly increase the risk of serious injury.
Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said the campaign is a timely reminder that how you wear your seatbelt matters just as much as wearing one.
“Volvo invented the three-point seatbelt in the 1960s and then gave the patent away for free for the good of saving lives around the world,” he said.
“The science on seatbelt safety was settled in the 60s – if you don’t buckle up correctly, you’re ignoring decades of evidence.
“Your seatbelt is the easiest life-saving decision you’ll ever make, and no one understands that more than the doctors and nurses in our state’s trauma unit who face the consequences of not wearing one every day.
“Even placing the chest sash under your arm or off your shoulder for just a moment can have lifelong consequences if you’re involved in a crash.”
Since safety cameras were introduced to Western Australia, there has been a significant drop in the rate of seatbelt offences detected.
From February 2025 to April 2026, the rate of seatbelt offences detected has decreased by more than 80 per cent from 4.60 offences per thousand vehicles in February 2025 to .69 offences per thousand vehicles in April 2026.
As part of the campaign broadcast TV, radio, social media and press advertising is taking place, ensuring the message reaches drivers and passengers wherever they are.
Learn more about the campaign on the Western Australian Government’s Wear your seatbelt correctly campaign page.
