Repeat drink driving offenders will find themselves faced with an additional hurdle before they start their engines from next month.
From February 1, NSW courts will introduce mandatory alcohol interlocks which will require drivers to pass an integrated breathalyser test before driving.
It’s not the way police wanted to start the year.
The New South Wales Police Force has issued a public plea for caution on the state’s roads after the weekend’s seven fatal crashes.
In the short period from New Year’s Day up to January 19, NSW Police have reported 21 fatalities on the road. The majority have been due to car crashes, with 11 of the drivers killed, as well as two passengers and seven motorcyclists. A pedestrian has also been identified as one of the casualties so far.
There is no doubt that the Australian automotive industry had a rough 2014. From difficult market conditions to lower consumer confidence, some insiders had written off the year even before its halfway mark.
However, according to statistics released on January 6 by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), more than 1.1 million new vehicles were sold in 2014 – just the third time that this has occurred in Australia.
In fact, 1,113,224 new vehicles were bought by both consumers, businesses and governments, making 2014 one of the more positive years in recent times.
Across Sydney and other parts of NSW, parking can be difficult and expensive.
While some local councils and the state government are working hard to increase the number of parking spaces, a new study has found that parking meters might be the overarching problem.
According to new parking app provider CellOPark, Australians are spending around $15 million extra as a result of ‘parking fine paranoia’. Essentially, motorists are deliberately overfeeding parking meters by an average of $2 each time to avoid fines.
As 2015 approaches, dozens of manufacturers are eagerly waiting for the start of the new year to release their next generation of models.
While some of 2015’s vehicles might not be on sale yet, they are under the microscope of the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The crash-test authority has carried out trials on more than 500 vehicle models over the past 20 years to gauge how safe they are for the Australian public.
According to Transport for NSW, drink driving is a factor in around 20 per cent of all fatal accidents in the state, but a recent campaign has highlighted the improving attitudes of motorists.
Operation Drink Drive 2 was conducted in early November, with authorities stopping and breath-testing drivers on NSW’s major highways as well as suburban and country roads. This year saw the operation open its net wider to test more motorists across a larger catchment area.
As we enter the business end of 2014, many people might be starting to think about 2015 and perhaps a new car.
For those considering a new car, the recently announced winners of Australia’s Best Cars awards might help with the decision.
As demand for parking spaces increases, NSW authorities are seeing a rise in motorists using disabled car parking spaces illegally.
As a result of driver behaviour, the NSW government has announced a tough approach to crackdown on this conduct.
There is no doubt that the freight industry is one of the most important sectors for NSW.
It is vital for truck operators and drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe and compliant and that the green slip and registration is up to date.
For all the benefits that this industry brings to NSW, there are also a number of road-related issues. It is important for the government and police to be vigilant to ensure the safety of all road users.
The latest example of this has recently wrapped up – Operation Shield. The collaboration between Joint Heavy Vehicle Taskforce Officers from the NSW Police Force Traffic & Highway Patrol Command and Maritime Services Inspectors saw heavy vehicles checked at 15 locations across the state during the first week of December.
Over the past few years, NSW authorities have had a major focus on drink driving. However, a new threat has emerged that will need serious attention in the years ahead – drug driving.
It is important to remember that your CTP insurance will cover you if you were in an incident with a drug driver, but the circumstances are less clear if you are the party in the wrong.
Drug driving involves motorists driving after taking one of the following substances: cannabis, methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine or an overdose of individual prescription medicines. However, many drivers have a combination of two or more in their system.
Authorities are encountering more drivers who are under the influence and are a danger to other road users.
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