Motor cars

New and emerging car technology is both exciting and scary at the same time. As we depend more on vehicles to protect us in the event of an accident, we also release further control and become more removed from the driving experience.

Although driverless vehicles are some way off, safety technology is a growing presence in nearly all new vehicles and something that most of us take for granted.

However, there is one organisation that doesn’t take safety technology lightly – the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). Over 20 years, the crash test authority has investigated the quality of safety technology in more than 400 vehicles – awarding the five-star safety ratings to the top performers.

Read More

For most people, a car is nothing more than a medium used to get from point A to point B. However, just as there are interesting facts about humans, animals, landscapes and so forth, there are also some pretty amazing facts about cars. The following 10 facts will surprise you.

Read More

There are 1,400 level crossings dotted around NSW, with very few not seeing a collision or near-miss in recent years.

This has lead Transport for NSW and the NSW police to launch another crackdown on level crossing safety. Over the coming weeks, they will target risky, illegal and dangerous level crossing behaviour around the state’s Central West.

Read More

Motorists have a number of important considerations to make when purchasing a new vehicle, including comprehensive and CTP insurance.  One of the most important considerations however, is price

The results of a recent study by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has found Australians are in a much better position than some of our global counterparts.

Read More

After a sluggish beginning to 2014, new car sales have been steady for the majority of the year. This has lead some experts to suggest that Australia is going to hit the 1.1 million figure for the third year in a row.

This would be quite an achievement for the automotive industry, given the difficult market conditions and waning consumer confidence.

Read More

The NSW government has announced a new safety campaign dubbed ‘Ride to Live’.

Over the past ten years, overall NSW road fatalities have decreased by 35 per cent. However, over the same period, motorbike rider deaths have increased 22 per cent. In fact, based on Transport for NSW data, 54 motorbike riders have been killed on NSW roads so far this year.

Read More

There are a number of considerations when you are thinking about which new vehicle to purchase, including comprehensive and CTP insurance.

There is one aspect that needs special consideration – safety. After spending some time looking at makes and models, the vehicle you choose should be safe for your family and protect you in the event of an accident..

Fortunately, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash tests new vehicles regularly to give consumers an idea of the level of safety and performance in a worst-case scenario.

In September and October, ANCAP awarded a number of five-star safety ratings to new vehicles as an indication that they meet the high standards for Australian motorists.

Here is a wrap up of ANCAP’s findings:

Read More

Everyone has noticed the markings, or tyre codes, on the side of their tyres, but I suspect very few of us know what they mean.

We normally have the tyres checked as part of the process for registration and greenslip renewal, so it is good to understand the codes

Read More

The Australian car market is very competitive. Apart from the driver’s licenses, CTP insurance and registration, selecting a vehicle to suit your requirements is easier said than done.

However, this process is about to get a lot simpler with the announcement of this year’s finalists for Australia’s Best Cars Awards. Across 15 categories, 45 finalists have been whittled down from a mammoth 220 contenders.

Read More

Australians are known for our laid back demeanour and appetite for adventure. With a country as vast and varied – from spectacular desert settings to sub-tropical rainforests, there is plenty to see and do in just a day.

However, according to a recent Roy Morgan survey, most of us don’t even have a day to spend enjoying the great outdoors and undertake a good old-fashioned Aussie road trip anymore.

With job commitments increasing and children immersed in laptops and tablets, it is becoming rarer to see a family pack the car and head out for a day of adventure.

Based on the results of close to 17,000 respondents, just 36.9 per cent of Australians aged 14+ had taken a day trip by car in the year to June 2014. This was down from 41.1 per cent in June 2010.

Read More