Roads quieter, but speeding and seatbelt deaths double in pandemic

NSW road safety authorities are begging drivers to slow down after a spike in the number of speeding deaths during the coronavirus pandemic.

Of all fatal crashes between March and July, speed-related ones doubled from 27 percent last year to 54 percent this year.

Seatbelt-related tragedies doubled as well.

Men made up 48 of the 65 speed-related deaths during that period, and 13 or the 17 people who were killed not wearing a seatbelt.

Despite speed and seatbelt fatalities rising, there have been 28 fewer people killed on our roads to date this year, than to September last year.

"We just want people to get home, we want everyone to get through 2020," NSW Roads Minister Andrew Constance said.