By March this year, nine people had already died in quad bike accidents. Quad bikes or ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) are often used on farms and not usually registered for sealed roads. But some say quad bikes are misnamed because they are not safe for sloping terrains. For this reason, more farmers are choosing side-by-side vehicles (SSVs). Read More
According to a US study, you are more likely to die driving a small car than a luxury SUV. This is alarming news for small car drivers, but it’s not the whole story. Many recent model small cars have lots of safety technologies and receive five-star ratings in crash tests. It all depends on how you measure safety. Read More
Back in October 2016, we wondered whether Australians care about car emissions. Nearly 4 years later, there are still mixed messages about cutting emissions. Australia still has no emissions standards. Meanwhile, ridesharing, SUVs and hybrids are increasing emissions faster than electric vehicles can lower them. Read More
Our 2-part series in February 2020, Are driverless cars just another fantasy?, exposed some of the autonomous vehicle (AVs) hype. Now the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the US reports AVs may prevent only one third of crashes. It is the first study to question the bold claim that driverless cars will have zero crashes. Read More
Electronics could make up 45-50% of the cost of a new car by 2030. Many new cars use advanced driver assistance systems, such as automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. But do these extra really improve safety? Some features have proved to reduce insurance claims for BMWs in the US while others had no effect. Read More
Winter is the peak period for road collisions with animals. It can be distressing to crash into an animal on the road or even just to see roadkill. As we start driving around NSW again, it is worth keeping an eye out for vulnerable wildlife. Read More
Some experts think electric vehicles (EVs) are just one step on the way to hydrogen vehicles. While EVs take a long time to refuel and battery production is energy intensive, hydrogen can be produced from renewable sources and vehicles refuelled rapidly. If the intention is to move away from petrol and diesel, then different types of EV may even co-exist. Read More
In early April, we had an around the world look at compulsory third party insurance. Now we compare registration and licensing systems in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. We found some surprising differences and some we could adopt here. Read More
Only during the GFC in March 2009, were new car sales lower than in March 2020. Now April 2020 figures are only half what they were in April 2019. The car industry is under pressure, but how does this affect electric vehicles (EVs)? Is this segment bucking the trend or will EVs continue to take a back seat? Read More
Every 10 minutes somebody in Australia steals a vehicle and one in three owners never sees their car again. One great way to prevent theft is to store keys away from windows and doors but two in five people don’t bother. Be more vigilant if you own a Holden Commodore, live in Northern Territory or go out on Friday nights. Read More