Articles by Joshua Dowling

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Safety experts concerned about new research that shows young drivers are taking "selfies" behind the wheel. One out of every three young drivers in a recent survey has admitted to taking a "selfie" behind the wheel, as Australia’s peak motoring body warns many are still ignorant of the tragic consequences and the hefty fines.   A survey of 7000 drivers aged 18 to 24 found that texting and talking are only part of the dangers posed by smartphones in cars.   According to a survey commissioned by Ford, one-in-three young British drivers admitted to taking a "selfie" while on the move, ahead of those in Germany (28 per cent) and France (28 per cent). Meanwhile, just as many young drivers admitted to using social media apps or websites while behind the wheel. The survey found that taking a photo can distract a driver for 14 seconds, enough for a car travelling at 100kmh/h to cover the length of more than three football fields. A study by Monash University in Melbourne found drivers are 2.8 times more likely to crash when dialing a phone than when driving undistracted. "Any distraction while on the road is dangerous, particularly for inexperienced drivers," said the chief executive of the Australian Automobile Association, Andrew McKellar. "(But) taking a photo or a selfie while driving is extremely dangerous."   In December 2012, 20-year-old Brooke Richardson crashed at 100km/h near Cobram on the NSW-Victoria border moments after sending a text message.   The coroner found she dropped the phone, bent down to pick it up and swerved to the wrong side of the road and hit a tree.   The death came one month after the NSW Government launched its "Get Your Hands Off It" campaign.   In August 2013, 26-year-old Sarah Durazza died after crashing her car into a tree on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.   Her boyfriend told police he was talking to her on her mobile phone at the time of the incident, and heard the impact.   Meanwhile, Mr McKellar said most young drivers are unaware of the penalties they are risking.   Drivers caught using a mobile phone in most states and territories accrue three demerit points -- four in Victoria -- and the fines are up to $433.   To remove any ambiguity, the laws have changed to make it illegal to even handle a phone unless it is in a secure cradle or windscreen mounting.   Many drivers are unaware it is illegal to use a phone whether it’s in your lap, away from your ear -- or simply holding it, even if a call is not being made.   Many states also ban P-Plate drivers from using a phone even when used with a hands-free device.   "If you get caught using your phone while driving you could come close to losing your licence, especially if you’re on your P-Plates," said Mr McKellar.   He said there is an increasing need for passengers to take responsibility for road safety.   "If you see your friend doing something dangerous then stop them. If you want to take a selfie while on the road, you should take the bus," said Mr McKellar. Is that phone call worth a quarter of your licence? NSW: $311 and three demerit points (school zone $405) How many caught: 36,584 (2012-13) NSW Police says: Learner and Provisional P1 drivers are not allowed to use any function of a phone (including hands-free) while driving.   Victoria: $433 and four demerit points How many caught: 55,000 (2012) Victoria Police says: Learners and P platers are not allowed to use any function of a phone (including hands-free) while driving for three years. You can be fined for holding your phone while driving. There is no legitimate reason to be simply holding your mobile phone while driving. We suggest drivers put their phone out of reach to avoid any temptation and, if there is an emergency, park their car safely before using their phone.   Queensland: $341 and three demerit points How many caught: 28,700 (2013) Queensland Police says:  The following is illegal (a) holding the phone to, or near, the ear, whether or not engaged in a phone call; (b) writing, sending or reading a text message on the phone; (c) turning the phone on or off; (d) operating any other function of the phone.   South Australia: $368 and three demerit points How many caught: 12,601 (2013) SA Police says: To avoid doubt, nothing in subrule (2) (b) authorises a person to use a mobile phone by pressing a key on the phone, or by otherwise manipulating the body or screen of the phone, if the phone is not secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle.   West Australia: $250 and three demerit points How many caught: 14,549 (2013) WA Police says: A trial of unmarked motorcycles during the Christmas road safety campaign in 2013 led police to issue 1379 infringements for mobile phone use during a 30 day period.   Tasmania: $300 and three demerit points How many caught: 2700 (2013) Tasmania Police says: All functions (including video calls, texting and emailing) are prohibited. Holding the phone (whether or not engaged in a phone call) is also prohibited.  "Holding" includes resting the mobile phone on your lap, or between your chin and shoulder, or passing the phone to a passenger.    Northern Territory: $250 and three demerit points for P-Plate drivers, $60 fine and three demerit points for fully licenced drivers How many caught: N/A NT Police says: The driver of a vehicle can make or receive a phone call on a mobile phone if the phone is either secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle or remotely operated. All other functions (including video calls, texting and emailing) are prohibited. There must be no touching of the keypad unless the phone is fixed to the vehicle. The driver may touch the ear piece or headset to operate the phone or pass it to a passenger.   Australian Capital Territory: $357 and three demerit points How many caught: N/A ACT Police says: t is an offence to use a mobile phone which is held in the hand while driving a vehicle. This includes sending or reading text messages, video messages and emails. You can only use a mobile phone to make or receive phone calls if your phone has a hands free connection or is secured in a commercially designed cradle. 

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Hyundai has become the first car brand in Australia to offer lifetime fixed-price servicing for every model, old and new. Hyundai has set a new benchmark for certainty in servicing costs. It has become the first car maker in Australia to offer capped price servicing on all its cars for the lifetime of the vehicle - and has even back-dated the program to include all models sold since the brand arrived Down Under in 1986. It means the guesswork has been taken out of servicing costs for more than 1.1 million Hyundai drivers across Australia. Hyundai's new servicing prices come into effect on September 1, 2014, and irons out the sudden jump in prices from service to service. Previously, Hyundai's capped price servicing deal ran out after three years (even though the warranty lasted for five) and hit customers with a double whammy: uncapped pricing on some of the dearest services in the car's life. Under the old system, owners of Hyundai small cars would pay $189 for each of the first three visits, then be met with a bill for close to $500 for the fourth visit, which is a more comprehensive service and not subsidised by Hyundai Australia. The new system means that customers will pay more for the first three services on a Hyundai small car ($229 for each visit), but the fourth one only jumps to $329 (instead of almost $500) and returns to $229 for the subsequent service. The new program still puts Hyundai among the top three brands for servicing affordability, along with Holden and Toyota. Each service on a Toyota small car is only $130, but dealer visits are required every six months instead of every 12 for the Hyundai -- and the Toyota offer runs out after three years. Holden charges $189 for each of the first four services on a small car, hedging its bets and requiring a dealer visit every nine months. Nissan and Ford also offer capped price servicing on older models and on new cars for up to six years, but their prices are dearer. Toyota was the first company to introduce capped price servicing in Australia in 2008 but now all Top 10 brands, and some European marques, have followed. WHY IT'S WORTH COMPARING CAPPED PRICE SERVICING DEALS Not all capped price servicing deals are created equally, so it pays to compare before you buy a new car. Some brands require a dealer visit every six months while others are happy to see the car once a year for routine maintenance. But be aware many service departments are trying to sell add-ons that you rarely need, such as an "air-conditioning flush" and other unnecessary extras. Be sure to ask for the regular logbook service covered under the capped price servicing deal, and nothing else. Worn out tyres and brakes are not covered, and nor is a wheel alignment, but oil and filter changes and safety checks are all part of the capped price package. One other handy hint: no matter what you are told, you are not obliged to have the car serviced from the dealership you bought the car from. We've received a number of complaints from new-car buyers in recent weeks asking why the dealer has told them they can't get their car serviced closer to home. You can. You can also get your car serviced at an independent workshop providing they have qualified mechanics and follow the logbook instructions. But our advice would be to stay within the dealer network, at least while the car is under warranty, because that way you can be sure the car is getting genuine parts and any minor updates that don't quite qualify as a recall. Car companies are also more inclined to help you with an out-of-warranty claim if they can see you've had every service done at one of its dealerships.

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