It’s not news that anyone wants to hear, but there has recently been a sharp rise in the New South Wales road toll, with 15 people killed over the course of two short weeks.
“With warmer weather across NSW, it seems some drivers are taking good driving conditions for granted, which is costing lives on our roads,” John Hartley, assistant commissioner of NSW’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Command told the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).
Safety technology in motor vehicles has evolved greatly since the first car came off the production line in 1908.
As new technology is developed we have seen the bar raised in terms of the safety standard for new cars.
This is monitored by independent auto watchdog organisations such as the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), which provides a star rating for cars based on the results of rigorous safety testing.
For people learning to drive, there are many skills that must be acquired. In addition to navigating different hazards and managing distractions, new drivers must also learn to drive safely in conditions where visibility is poor, such as night. But the crash rate is still too high.
A study sponsored by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development found that young or inexperienced drivers were more likely to be slower at anticipating hazards at night. In addition, novice drivers were also found to be more at risk of experiencing acute sleepiness when they were behind the wheel both at night or in the early hours of the morning.
As such, a number of states have regulations in place to limit the amount of unsupervised nighttime driving for learners.
Hazard perception is a key element for safe driving. When drivers are distracted, their ability to recognise and respond to hazards can be hindered, which can in turn lead to accidents. Mobile phones are one big distraction.
New research has found that a mobile phone ringing whilst you are driving is as big a distraction as actually answering the call.
Smartphones have an undeniable presence in the lives of Australians, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by developers, corporates and even government bodies. Now, Transport NSW has joined the crusade with its own range of smartphone applications, or apps to assist the state’s road users.
There is good news for Penrith residents concerning the Nepean River Green Bridge upgrade. Transport for New South Wales reports that tenders have been invited for the construction of the cycle and pedestrian access bridge between Penrith and Emu Plains.
The project is intended to provide an alternative to the Victoria Bridge, where non-motorists currently have to share the crossing with other road users such as trucks and passenger vehicles.
Researchers at Monash University are carrying out an in-depth study to analyse what trauma to the body happens in a car crash.
The academics are looking at 390 different accidents to answer a crucial question – why do some people come out unscathed in a car crash, whilst others face serious injuries or even death? The study is titled Australian National Crash In-depth Study (ANCIS).
Their initial findings have presented chilling insights to the trauma faced by the human body in an accident.
Young drivers could be more at risk of a fatal crash when they are carrying passengers, according to a recent study. Young drivers hold 16 per cent of the licences in Australia, and also represent the age group with the highest crash rate, according to the National Roads and Motorists Association (NRMA).
The city of Sydney, while having so much to offer its 4 million plus residents, also hosts some of the country’s most congested roads. According to TomTom’s latest Traffic Index report, Sydney commuters can expect to spend just under four days a year sitting in traffic, and it now ranks as one of the top 25 most congested cities in the world. It is time for some major road upgrades.
Sleep deprivation is an exceedingly pressing issue that can have serious health implications when left unchecked. According to the Sleep Health Foundation, an alarming 18 per cent of Australian adults are sleeping less than six hours per night, while some 20 per cent suffer from chronically poor sleep.
With Australian Sleep Awareness Week taking place from July 6-12, now is the perfect time to alert New South Wales drivers to the dangers of getting behind the wheel while fatigued.
The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Sleep better, Be better’, with the Chair of the Sleep Health Foundation, Professor David Hillman urging people to take the matter of their sleep habits more seriously.
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