Hundreds Caught Not Wearing Seatbelts By New Sussex Traffic Cameras

New roadside cameras have caught hundreds of drivers breaking the law in their first week of operation, according to Sussex Police.

The technology recorded 620 suspected seatbelt offences and a further 110 drivers using their phones after being rolled out earlier this month.

Using infrared, the cameras can capture images through windscreens in all light and weather conditions.

Potential offences are automatically cropped and anonymised before being reviewed by officers, with most images deleted immediately.

Police say the first week of data also revealed 17 drivers suspected of breaking both seatbelt and mobile phone laws at the same time, along with one motorist seen driving with no hands on the wheel.

Road safety manager Mark Baker warned some drivers are still wearing seatbelts incorrectly.

“We’ve seen people wearing them under their arm, which is not safe and could still lead to serious injury in a crash,” he said.

The cameras are set to be reviewed after several weeks, following similar trials by National Highways last year.

Using a mobile phone behind the wheel can result in a £200 fine and six penalty points, while failing to wear a seatbelt can lead to fines of up to £500.

Since 2023, more than 80 crashes in Sussex have involved drivers using phones, while over 200 people have been injured in collisions where seatbelts were not worn.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner said the cameras are aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries caused by dangerous driving, adding that risk-taking on the roads “is not acceptable.”