Road toll statistics are continuing to improve, with the latest release from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) showing a total of 102 road deaths occurring during May 2014.
The New South Wales government has announced changes to the list of vehicles deemed safe enough for provisional drivers. It includes turbocharged and supercharged vehicles.
According to Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay, the new rules are designed to expand the range of options available for young drivers. The shift in legislation reflects the changing technology of many cars today, where added features may be designed to enhance performance other than speed.
A new road safety guide for New South Wales aims to improve motoring habits around school zones by targeting a variety of potential problem areas. Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay launched the guide in a letter to principals of 2,500 primary schools across NSW earlier this month.
Titled ‘Road Safety Issues Around Schools’, the guide sets out a number of key points for motorists to remember when driving in or around schools. While the principles of the guide are aimed specifically at parents, the safe driving habits they outline can be applied to any NSW driver who may come across a school zone.
The number of new motor vehicle sales in New South Wales fell slightly during May, according to the latest release from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
In total, May saw a trend estimate of 91,764 new vehicles sold throughout Australia. This figure has decreased slightly compared to April 2014. However, the seasonally adjusted estimate (92,410 vehicles) rose by 0.3 per cent when compared to the same month.
Renewing your licence in a timely manner is an important part of your legal duties as a driver, along with ensuring your green slip and registration are up to date.. While Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) send you a renewal notice, it is your responsibility to ensure the process is completed satisfactorily.
If you’re coming up for a renewal of your full licence in NSW, here are a few things to take note of.
Roads Minister Duncan Gay has announced a series of proposed changes to the light vehicle registration system in New South Wales, the biggest the state has seen for 90 years. If the legislation is successful, it would mean significant changes for affected drivers.
Driving for long distances can be an enjoyable experience. Whether you’re going on a road trip or simply trying to get from Point A to Point B, the experience of driving at your own pace can be a rewarding one.
However, driving for longer periods of time can also expose you to new hazards and risks such as driver fatigue. It’s important for everyone on the road to be practising safe motoring habits, and this is particularly true for those who have a long journey ahead of them.
With the winter months now here, there’s even more reason to drive safely at all times. Rainfall, snow and ice can add an extra element to the experience that drivers need to account for. According to the Transport for NSW Centre for Road Safety, in the year ended December 2012, wet surface conditions were a factor in 8,404 crashes. Of these, 51 were fatal, 3,162 resulted in an injury and 5,191 had no casualties.
Meanwhile, snow or ice on the roads was a factor in 80 crashes during that year, 28 of which resulted in injury and 52 with no casualties.
We announced in a news article that the NSW Government is creating a 40km/h speed limit zone in the Sydney CBD, from the end of 2014. Safety of CBD pedestrians is the main factor for the new speed zone.
As a driver who drives in the Sydney CBD every week day, it seems to me that there are other issues which need to be resolved and which will greatly increase pedestrian safety.
In a news article we advised that NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay has announced that a pink slip will be valid for six months, starting in January 2015.
Pink slips, known as e-Safety Checks, are currently valid for six weeks.
The change is designed to give vehicle owners greater flexibilty as to when they acquire the pink slip. For example, a pink slip can be acquired at the time of a regular service, rather than requiring a special trip to an authorised inspection station within six weeks before the registration due date.
It seems that there are some issues with the change.
The journey to achieving a driver’s licence in New South Wales involves several different steps. This is understandable, as responsible driving is key for ensuring the safety of everyone using the road. However, it does mean that most drivers will have to wait a significant amount of time before progressing to a full and unrestricted licence. For eligible drivers wishing to accelerate the process while also gaining valuable skills in low-risk defensive driving, the new Safer Drivers Course may be a useful alternative.
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