MOTORISTS who fail to belt up have put the Orana region in a list of the 10 worst areas for the offence that police warn can lead to preventable deaths.
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With 983 drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt since 2013, the Orana Local Area Command (LAC) came in at number eight on the list compiled and released by NSW Police's traffic and highway patrol command on Sunday.
St George LAC was the worst with 1851 drivers detected without a seatbelt.
The state has a total of more than 75 LACs.
Commander of traffic and highway patrol John Hartley said that despite enforcement by police and constant reminders through the media, drivers still were not getting the message.
"Since 2013, officers have issued 47,890 infringements to those not wearing seat belts, 1560 of those were issued to learner and provisional licence holders," Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.
"That is nearly 50,000 people in just over two years that have run the risk of serious injury, or even death in a crash.
"Last year during a road safety operation, officers issued over 300 infringements in a single day, 90 of which were in the Sydney CBD and surrounding areas.
"Seat belts are there to save lives, and the simple task of putting on a seat belt combined with other safety features in modern vehicles, give drivers and passengers the greatest chance possible in the event of a collision.
"Although it has been compulsory to wear seatbelts in New South Wales since 1971, each year on average there are more than 50 people killed and 300 injured who were not wearing seatbelts. "These deaths and injuries may have been prevented if seatbelts had been used."
Centre for Road Safety general manager Marg Prendergast said seatbelts were the most fundamental safety device in your car.
"When we made seatbelts compulsory in 1971, over 1000 people were killed on NSW roads each year, which is well over three times the 2014 road toll," Ms Prendergast said.
"Over the last 40 years, seatbelts have helped to save hundreds, if not thousands of lives and have prevented many more injuries.
"Even in minor crashes, without a seatbelt you could be thrown around the vehicle, leaving you and possibly others in your car, seriously injured."
