"People on the northern beaches will say it's because of the lack of public transport. I'd say it's because they can't obey the law," said Traffic and Highway Patrol commander, John Hartley. The vehicle was allegedly detected at 201km/h in the sign-posted 100km/h zone. Credit:Leanne Pickett Warringah councillor Pat Daley, a former police media adviser, said public transport was being improved constantly but the geography of the peninsula made it "virtually impossible" to service all areas by buses at night. "There are also only three or four major arteries and no matter where you're going, you have to travel on those roads so it makes it very easy for the police to set up strategic RBT sites," he said.

Pittwater mayor Jacqueline Townsend said taxi services had improved "but I don't think the message has got out to people". The Tweed/Byron and Coffs/Clarence regions came in close second and third. They are perennial drink-driving hotspots, a trend that has baffled police for years. Drivers in the St George and Mount Druitt local area commands will finish the year as the worst seatbelt offenders. Assistant Commissioner Hartley said police tend to see more seatbelt offences in areas with a high population of people born overseas. "If you've grown up in Australia you've grown up with seatbelts almost all your life whereas some countries still don't have compulsory seatbelt laws," he said. "We see a lot of mothers carrying children rather than putting them in restraints."

Westmead Hospital trauma co-ordinator Julie Seggie said the hospital had seen an increase in young drivers not wearing seatbelts. "It's been a very, very long time since there's been a big education campaign," she said. "Half the time it's associated with alcohol being involved." The Hume local area command around Goulburn was the worst for speeding, with almost double the number of fines as second-placed Mid North Coast. Richmond, taking in areas around Ballina and Casino, was the worst offender for drug-driving. Police launched a major drug-driving campaign earlier this year following revelations that about 15 per cent of fatal crashes involved a driver who had drugs in their system.

The horror year on NSW roads only worsened on Sunday with four people dying within 24 hours. The road toll stands at 342, 40 more deaths than last year.