Articles by Mark Hinchliffe

Engineers are working on using sensors and computers already installed in most cars to automatically activate indicators when a vehicle starts to turn a corner or change a lane. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has found drivers forget to use their indicators almost half the time when changing lanes (48 per cent) and on only one in four turns (25 per cent). Human behavioural factors, including incorrect turning signals, are believed to be responsible for as much as 97 per cent of road fatalities. The SAE says "smart'' indicators would prompt drivers to indicate and turn them off electronically when the turn or lane change is completed. The system would operate by using vehicle sensors and computer controls that are already being used in electronic stability control which is now available in every new car sold in Australia. It would also do away with the mechanical switch that turns off indicators and has been in vehicles since the 1940s. Fatality Free Friday and road safety author founder Russell White says the idea of automated indicators "sounds ok". "But I wonder how that would go with lane changes," he says. "You have to assume that you'd still have do to that in advance some how; not sure how the car would know that was about to happen and could give a few flashes prior to making the move. "On one hand it sounds like an advantage and could be good but it could also potentially dumb down the art of driving to some degree." RACQ safety policy executive manager Steve Spalding welcomes any new technology that can make driving safer. "But it is important that technology is not used to substitute those responsibilities we have as drivers, such as signaling before lane changing, turning or making other manoeuvres and remembering to cancel the indicators afterwards,'' he says. "Making the technology sufficiently 'smart' to cover all the different situations where drivers would need to safely indicate their intentions to change lanes or directions is not only a challenge but unlikely to be foolproof in terms of the system making the right predictive decisions, that's why we as drivers must have the right skills to maintain proper control of the vehicle at all times  and use them.  

Sex usually sells, but not in the case of the British-made Honda Civic hatch. The sexiest of the small-car hatches is expected to only account for one in three Civic sales, compared with the more sedate-looking and slightly less practical and less flexible sedan made in Thailand. Honda Australia director Stephen Collins says the Civic hatch has previously been priced as a more niche product. He says the lower price will give this model more mass-market appeal, but still not as high as the sedan.He expects to sell about 400 hatches a month while the sedan, launched in February, will sell about 1000 a month. Surprisingly the Poms have got it right with only their locally made hatch being available in Britain. Collins says there are no plans yet for the even sexier Type R hatch, but if there are, Australia would take it.Buyers can expect a saving of as much as $5000 when the ninth-generation Honda Civic hatch arrives in Australia in June. Collins says it will start at "the mid-$20,000s" compared with the previous five-door Si hatch which sold out at prices starting from $29,990. He says this is the result of the strong Australian dollar and "an aggressive pricing strategy" and follows recent price reductions of up to $4300 on the Accord. We can only imagine how cheap the hatch would be if it was built in Thailand like the sedan, rather than Swindon, west of London.It will arrive in two trim levels - VTi and VTi-L - with six-speed manual available in the base model with hill-start assist and a five-speed also available in the VTi-L. Unfortunately, VTi doesn't come with cruise control which is standard in most of its competitor because Honda Australia wanted to "keep the price competitive", says Collins. The VTi-L adds leather seats,rain-sensing wipers, dual zone air con, front fog lights, 17-inch wheels, rear camera, leather seats, cruise control and a premium audio system with subwoofer in the boot. A locally developed satnav will be available as an accessory.There has been little change here. It features the same 1.8-litre VTEC naturally aspirated engine, with slight tweaks that give it just 1kW more of power and the same amount of torque. The improvement in fuel economy of 0.8L/100km in the manual and 0.7L/100km in the auto is a substantial 10 per cent gain, due mainly to aerodynamics in the body and underbody. Honda Europe spokesman Christoph Rust says "two or three" former F1 engineers were involved in the aerodynamic design. It also has an ECO Assist button which reduces air conditioning drain, changes the characteristics of the throttle and displays how economically you are driving. But the fuel-saving auto stop-start function available in Euro models will not be coming to Australia in a further effort to keep a lid on prices. Instead, a 1.6-litre diesel engine with manual transmission will be available in the first half of next year, says Collins. Technology inside is presented on two information screens and there is USB and iPod connectivity plus Bluetooth audio streaming in the VTi-L.This is the Miranda Kerr of the small hatch world - petite, pretty from every angle and just enough curves to be sexy as hell. Unlike Kerr, the Civic hatch sits lower and wider than before. The most polarizing feature of the design is its tasty rump with the new combination lamp design and brake-light cluster.It retains the hidden rear door handle now adopted in the stunning Hyundai Veloster. The cabin has a familiar Honda feel which is not luxurious, but certainly a quality build. It now adds soft-touch trim and extra-smooth leather with more comfortable stitching in the VTi-L. Hatch comes in seven colours – Yellow Topaz, Alabaster Silver, Crystal Black, Deep Sapphire Blue, Milano Red, Polished Metal and White Orchid - with a black interior. The VTi has cloth trim while the VTi-L gets leather trim and heated front seats. Honda’s flexible rear folding seats add practicality to the interior layout.Collins says it will receive a five-star Australian safety rating based on European results. The Civic hatch has the same level of safety equipment as the sedan with six airbags, including full-length curtain airbags. It also has a strong body, stability control, tyre deflation warning system and a reversing camera for the VTi-L. That camera should be standard in both trims as the rear hatch creates a huge blind spot. Rust says the rear window has been increased to reduce the blind spot, but it still presents a large blind spot for following traffic which can't be fixed by a reversing camera. Also, the rear wiper only sweeps the top half of the split window. Under the massive, flat cargo floor is a temporary spare.At 206km/h on the autobahn between Nuremberg and Munich, the Honda is fizzing at over 6000 revs in sixth gear but still not king of the road. Here it's at its upper limits and having to get out of the way of rapidly encroaching Vorsprung Durch types. But these are unfamiliar and irrelevant conditions for Australia where it will run in the 100km/h highway traffic with ease. The suspension is tweaked a little tighter than in the sedan, but it's still a compliant ride, although it is difficult to determine just how plush it will feel on our lumps and bumps. Rust says the rear suspension bushes are filled with fluid for a smooth ride over corrugations.We drive only the six-speed manual over almost 1000km in Germany, mainly on autobahns, and find the ratios well suited to grand touring. But with Australia's limited speed zones, sixth and even fifth cogs may be a little too high for regular use. Honda's rev-happy engine is better when worked around 4500rpm in gears one through to four. The pedals and the gearshift feel a little mushy and light, but some drivers prefer that feel. We would prefer a more positive and direct sensation. Steering is tighter, but the ratios are the same, resulting in a confident and stable feel even at 200km/h-plus. Cabin noise is low, even at high speed. It only becomes a concern on some coarse tarmac and over abrupt changes of surface such as cobblestones. We found the driving position ok, but the steering wheel reach adjustment too short and the seats way too hard with a protruding and non-adjustable lumbar support. Our backsides were crying for relief after an hour in the saddle. For those who like the steering wheel positioned high, it also gets in the way of the speedo.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins says the stylish hatch will start at "the mid-$20,000s" compared with the previous five-door Si hatch which sold out at prices starting from $29,990.He says this is the result of the strong Australian dollar and "an aggressive pricing strategy" and follows recent price reductions of up to $4300 on the Accord.We can only imagine how cheap the hatch would be if it was built in Thailand like the sedan, rather than Swindon, west of London. The new model will have just 1kW more of power and an improvement in fuel economy of 0.8L/100km in the manual and 0.7L/100km in the auto.But Collins says it will have more features than the previous hatch. It will arrive in two trim levels - VTi and VTi-L - with five-speed auto and six-speed manual transmissions. Collins says there are no plans yet for a sporty Type R model, but if there are, Australia would take it.He expects to sell about 400 hatches a month while the sedan, launched in February, will sell about 1000 a month. Collins says it will receive a five-star Australian safety rating based on European results. The Hatch will be available in seven colours – Yellow Topaz, AlabasterSilver, Crystal Black, Deep Sapphire Blue, Milano Red, Polished Metal and White Orchid - all with a black interior. The VTi has cloth seats and the VTi-L gets leather trim and heated front seats.Honda Civic hatchPrice: from about $25,000Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmResale: 52% (manual), 53% (auto) - based on SiService interval: 10,000km/6 monthsSafety rating: 5 starSpare: Full-size/temporaryEngine: 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder, 104kW/174NmTransmission: 5-speed auto, 6-speed manual; FWDThirst: 6.1/100km (manual), 6.5L/100km 

Brisbane mother of three Margaret Rapley has just completed four years alone with her little 250cc Suzuki Intruder motorcycle and says women need not be afraid of chasing the gypsy life of freedom on the open road."I want to inspire women that they can do anything,'' she says. Rapley hit the road on her $4900 bike in 2008 when her youngest child went to live with her father for the last two years of school. After 66,000km circumnavigating the continent she is back home again; but not for long. "I want to teach English in Vietnam and I'll be taking my bike as I want to travel around,'' she says. "I also want to go to Tuscany with my bike.''Rapley worked her way around the country town by town, job by job. "I worked as a carer, tour guide in Tasmania and Uluru, I did retail, picked fruit, worked in supermarkets, seeding, slashing, house mother you name it,'' she says. "I now have a nine-page resume. I'll never be unemployed.''Rapley says life on the open road with all your worldly possessions strapped to a bike has been "liberating''. "When I decided stop in a town and get a job I'd go to a second-hand shop and buy some clothes and when I decided to move on I'd give them back,'' she says. "Everything I own is second hand except my riding equipment.'' Rapley's odyssey has included riding in 47 degree heat in the Northern Territory, black ice at -3 degrees in Tasmania, strong sidewinds on the Nullarbor that lifted her bike off the road and dodging camels, horses, sheep, goats, emus and wedgetail eagles.Yet she's only had one crash. "A backpacker in a ute turned in front of me and I had to lay the bike down,'' she said. "The panniers saved the bike and me from major damage.''Rapley says a female biker arriving in an outback town on her own generates a lot of interest. "People would always come up and talk to me, although I had to be careful not to tell too many people that I was travelling alone,'' she says.But she also loves the solitude of being able to "scream and sing'' in her helmet. "It's helped me cope with menopause being on the bike,'' she says. "Most women I tell about the trip say, 'my god did you do it by yourself?' and 'weren't you scared and worried you wouldn't get work'."When I started I had to stop 10 minutes up the road with self doubt and worry. I couldn't believe I was free of everything. "But now my bike's my most faithful companion and I just want to tell women that they can do anything.''

Modern classics are popular among the more mature riders who want something that reminds them of the "good old days". But the modern classic from diverse brands such as Triumph, Harley, Ducati and Moto Guzzi don't have all the foibles of the old bikes with their modern fuel-injected engines and disc brakes.  Moto Guzzi is beefing up the appeal of its V7 Classic, which is a faithful rendition of its 1960s V7, with a free touring package that makes it a more useable bike. Importers John Sample Automotive have released a limited edition Sports Touring Pack valued at $2200 free on all current V7 stock. The pack includes a tinted sports windscreen to take some of the windblast and cold off the chest, plus a leather pannier kit and chromed carry rack turning it into a long-distance tourer. The panniers are of rigid design in nylon with a capacity to hold up to 20 litres and covered in leather. They feature water-resistant compounds along with removable inner liners and are finished off by a chrome steel buckle to close. The panniers fasten to the frame with steel. The rear carrier fits in place of the chrome handles, giving the passenger a solid handle to grab. Touring is further aided by the comfortable riding position, stress-free engine, maintenance-free shaft drive common to all Guzzis and five-speed transmission. The 19.5-litre fuel tank also provides almost 400km of highway range. At $13,990, the V7 sits between its main modern classic rivals, the Triumph Bonneville ($12,490-$13,990) and Ducati GT 1000 ($17,990-$18,990). As in the 1960s V7, this model features a 90-degree V-twin engine.  All Guzzis have that "torque effect" of slightly rocking sideways with the throttle, but it is less pronounced now, easy to get used to and a quirky characteristic that no true Guzzi fan would be without. The EFI is very smooth from idle, making tight manoeuvres, commuting and roundabouts a breeze. Unlike the original V7, it has Brembo disc brakes, Weber-Marelli electronic fuel injection and Marzocchi forks. So while it may look like a well-restored classic, it goes, turns and stops like a modern bike.  Spoked wheels, big rear fender, single front disc, twin shocks, single headlight and twin clock-shaped instruments are the hallmark of classic uncluttered design. Add to that the shaped tank, the deep chrome and the excellent build quality and you have a beautiful bike.  Modern touches include the small LCD screens in each instrument "clock", the Moto Guzzi logo that lights up on the instruments, the Brembos, braided lines and smooth EFI. Triumph kept the traditional carbie shape for its EFI unit and Guzzi at least retains what looks like a traditional choke - a manually-operated fast-idle lever on the handlebar. Moto Guzzi V7 Classic Price: $13,990 Engine: 744cc, 4-valve, fuel-injected V-twin; Power: 35.5kW @ 6800rpm; Torque: 54.7Nm @ 3600rpm Transmission: 5-speed, shaft drive Fuel Tank: 19.5L (2.5L res)  

Yamaha Motors Australia spokesman Sean Goldhawk says Ballard was invited to Japan to give his views on the first major update of the bike in almost five years. Goldhawk says Australia and NZ are the biggest markets in the world for the WRs, which was one of the reasons Ballard was invited to provide input into their update. Multi-medal winning enduro team manager Ballard, 52, describes the new bike as a complete package.  "It really is strong in every area and an ideal bike for Aussie conditions," he says. The WR450F is the top-selling enduro bike in Australia by more than two to one over the KTM 350EXCF. The new WR inherits a lot of technology from the 2012 YZ250F motocross bike, including an aluminium bilateral beam frame similar for sharp steering and handling. It also gets twin-chamber suspension inspired by the YZ, but tuned more for enduro riding to absorb big hits with a softer initial travel for tight turns. The fuel injection can also now be tuned for stable engine performance in a variety of temperatures and altitudes with a hand-held, portable Power Tuner from the YZ450F. It connects to the WR450F via a coupler. The 450cc engine has been tuned to meet the requirements of the new FI system and chassis changes, but retains liquid cooling and five titanium valve, single-cylinder layout. A special cam profile has been developed to suit enduro RPM use and the five-speed gearbox has ratios suitable to cover a wide range of riding environments. The engine is fitted with an exhaust pipe resonator to improve power output in the low to midspeed range. The new radiator has a wider core to increased reliability and resist shock. The WR also gets a new enduro seat, slim plastic resin 7.2 litre fuel tank, a fuel level warning light, black Excel rims, a new headlight cover, side covers and graphics. Testers claim the new engine is smooth with easy EFI tuning and crisp throttle response. They have also praised on the excellent suspension. However, it's still heavier than it should be and the three-month parts-only warranty may be industry standard, but it's really not good enough. Yamaha WR450F Price: $12,990 Warranty: 3 months (parts only) Service interval: 3000km/3 months Engine: 449cc liquid-cooled EFI single Transmission: 5-speed, chain Body: 2315mm (L); 825m (w); 1275m (h), 960mm (Seat), 335mm (Clearance) Wet weight: 129kg Fuel: 7.2L tank Tyres: 80/100-21; 120/90-18  

A second safety recall has been issued for the new Ducati Panigale Superbike.The most powerful bike yet produced by the Italian manufacturer landed in Australia a couple of months ago and almost immediately had a safety recall for inferior brake pads.A second safety recall has now been issued, this time for an incorrect retaining bolt linking the swingarm to the rear suspension linkage rod. If the bolt fails, it "may result in loss of control of the motorcycle", the notice reads. The Panigale sells here for $33,990.This second recall follows on from Ducati's first one in April this year.Ducati's MotoGP-inspired Panigale has been talked about in terms of a bike of the year candidate, but only a couple of months ago the S model was part of a worldwide recall of several models over problems with malfunctioning the rear brake prads.The recall notice claimed inferior brake pads have been used which could affect the braking performance. This in a bike that costs $33,990 for the S model and $39,990 for the S Tricolore. The standard model with ABS costs $26,990.That compares with its European superbike competitors, the BMW S 1000RR at $24,490 or MV Agusta F4 at $24,300.The Panigale has 145kW of power which is not far shy of the Desmosedici, a limited-edition modified street version of the MotoGP bike which fetched more than $100,000 in 2008.Other Ducati models affected by the safety recall include the Monster 796, Monster 796 ABS, Monster 1100 EVO ABS, Hypermotard 796, Streetfighter 848, 848 EVO and Multistrada 1200 ABS.Owners are advised to contact their dealer to arrange for replacement pads. The use of inferior pads seems incongruous with a bike that includes a host of technological wizardry and acronyms - ride modes, power modes, RbW, ABS, DES, DTC, EBC, DQS and DDA+/GPS. 

The latest Roy Morgan research has recorded the highest level of car-buying interest in the past 10 years.Their Leading Indicators Report for March found an estimated 741,000 Australians intend to buy a new car in the next 12 months, based on a survey of more than 50,000 private buyers which excludes fleet, government and rental buyers.However, it also found an estimated 2.29 million Australians intend to buy a new car in the next four years which is down just 1.3 per cent on the record February figure of 2.26 million. Big winners over the past year are the luxury brands led by Audi, up 62.5 per cent to 2.6 per cent of those intending to buy in the next four years.It was followed by BMW (36.3 per cent increase to 3 per cent) and Lexus (11.1 per cent to 1 per cent). Roy Morgan Research industry communications director Norman Morris says Audi is catching up to the traditional German brands with a more "youthful, sporty image".The losers are Suzuki (down 38.9 per cent to 1.1 per cent), Nissan (-20 per cent to 3.6 per cent) and Mitsubishi (-19 per cent to 4.6 per cent). "With increased competition from Euro brands, someone has to lose out and it seems some of the Japanese brands don't have the prestige image attached to buying a Euro brand," Morris says.The Roy Morgan figures for buyer intentions over the next four years largely favour small cars, such as the Holden Cruze and Toyota Corolla, with more than one in five intending to buy a city run-about, up 9.6 per cent in the past year. They will move away from large cars (down 16.6 per cent to 9 per cent) and light cars (down 14. per cent to 6.3 per cent).The segment expected to record the biggest growth in sales in the next four years will be small SUVs costing less than $40,000 which is up 85.7 per cent to 2.8 per cent in the past year. Compact SUVs last year accounted for almost half of all SUV sales and 12 per cent of all new vehicle sales, increasing by 5.8 per cent to a 12-month tally of 121,387 despite the total market dropping 2.6 per cent to 1,008,437."I've even got one myself," says Morris. "They've become a lot more refined and car-like, they're quite acceptable and more versatile. Not everyone wants to go driving in the mud. "There doesn't seem to be any stigma attached to them now. "Even prestige marques are coming into the SUV market which was unheard of in the past."Morris says the survey reflects strong VFACT figures for new vehicle sales in the first quarter. "Of the mainstream brands, Subaru and Mazda appear to be the major beneficiaries in the short term," he says. "After a turbulent 2011, this will be welcome relief for Subaru, who have recently introduced their all-new Small SUV - the XV - and also launched the new Impreza range."Meredith Stone and partner Dennis O'Mera bought a Subaru XV to replace their Suzuki Swift and Toyota Prado. "We wanted something in between and I travel a fair bit and its fairly economical," Stone says. "To be honest we were originally attracted by the advert. I love the orange colour. "Then we had a look at it and were impressed by all the features."BUYER INTENT 

The odometer on this 1956 Austin FX3 reads "92434" miles (148,758km)'', most of which were done in service as a taxi in London until 1971 when it was decommissioned. Rolls-Royce engineer Rainer Keissling bought the taxi in 1971 for 120 pounds (about $177) and drove it to Germany where he lived. He then brought it to Australia in 1984 when he emigrated with his family. "He just had a love of vintage cars,'' says one of his three sons, Chris. "Every time he went to England on business, he'd come back with spare parts like a starter motor in his luggage.'' When his father died about five years ago, the car was given to the three sons - Rainer, Christian and Bernard - who set about restoring it to its original condition. "It had been sitting in a shed and just slowly fell into disrepair,'' Keissling says. "Dad couldn't do any more to it because his health was failing. "So we took it upon ourselves to restore it. Bit by bit we've repaired it and put it back into running order.'' Keissling also ran an engineering business like his father, so most of the spare parts that were unavailable were fabricated by him, right down to the steering box bushes. One of the biggest jobs was replacing the notorious "Prince of Darkness'' Lucas Electrics. "They never really worked properly from the start, but we've got it working properly now,'' Keissling says. "Over the years we've spent at least $5000 to $10,000 restoring it. It's hard to say just how much we've spent. It's been a passion thing rather than a cost thing.'' Current value is estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000. "It's hard to find an accurate value. It's not super rare, but has a lot of sentimental value.'' The brothers have used the car for family and friends' weddings, including Chris and his wife, Emily. "It drives really well,'' he says. Like all London taxis, the front wheels turn almost 90 degrees giving it a small turning circle of 7.6m diameter so it can negotiate tight London streets and tiny parking spaces, but it has no power steering. A unique feature is the built-in Jackall hydraulic jacking system which is similar to the on-board system used by V8 Supercars. There is also a mechanical override to pump up the jacks by hand. The FX3 is fitted with mechanical drum brakes with rod operation and is suspended by beam axles on leaf springs. It was the first model with a separate driver compartment with the luggage riding shotgun. In the back is a bench seat with two single rearward-facing seats. Keissling says the taxi meter was unhooked from the gearbox when it was decomissioned, but has now been reconnected to drive the meter which ticks over at six pence for every one and one-third miles. He says fuel economy is "pretty good because it's a low rpm diesel'' and the car has a top speed of 100km/h. "It's not fast, but it has good pulling power in first and second gear,'' he says. "It's hard to drive with no synchro on the downshifts and no power steering, but once you get the hang of it it's not too bad.'' Austin FX3 Year: 1956 Price New: 1010 ($1500) Price Now: $15-20,000 Engine: 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder diesel Body: 4-door, 5-seater (plus driver) Trans: 4-speed manual with no synchro in first Did you know: Austin built 12,435 FX3 taxis from 1948 to 1958, most of which were licensed in London and some other British cities. Got a special car you'd like featured in Carsguide? Modern or classic we're interested in hearing your story. Please send a pic and brief info to mark.hinchliffe@carsguide.com.au  

We took it for a test drive -- see below -- with mixed reports back from my daughters. But as a parent, I can see some benefit. More unnerving for parents than watching their toddler take their first tentative steps is watching their son or daughter drive off on their own for the first time. Now parents can feed or ease their anxiety by monitoring where and how their children drive with a variety of GPS tracking devices. Holden is investigating bringing in the US General Motors OnStar system that logs on the internet where their car is being driven. It is similar to other aftermarket GPS systems being used overseas. Now a Sydney software company has gone a step further with a GPS-based in-car digital system that coaches new drivers. The Mercurien BetterDriver service tracks the vehicle's movement, detecting fast cornering, harsh acceleration, erratic lane-changing and sudden braking and providing immediate audio feedback to the driver about their road behaviour with a series of beeps. Parents also can download a log of their children's driving record and maps that show the exact route they have driven. Mercurien BetterDriver costs $100 to install and $2 a day to monitor, but company boss Michael Graham says it would pay for itself by reducing insurance costs. He said AAMI had already offered a 20 per cent reduction in comprehensive insurance premiums to the first 1000 drivers who installed the BetterDriver system. "We have designed BetterDriver specifically in response to the crash rates for P-plate drivers who are most at risk in the first years of driving," says Mr Graham. "The number of accidents per month increases dramatically when drivers cross the threshold from L to P plates." Mercurien's BetterDriver system consists of a Skymeter unit which is a highly accurate GPS transmitter with an "accelerometer". The unit emits a beep to the driver under risky driving conditions such as heavy acceleration.  The five different volumes of beeping represent the severity of risky actions from simply uneconomical driving through to a life-threatening event. Mr Graham says the service also provides access to a password-protected, individual website that allows drivers and their families to assess how safely the vehicle has been driven.  "The BetterDriver individual websites show the route the vehicle has taken, time, distance and the manner in which the vehicle has been driven," he says. "As well as illustrating any at-risk actions over time, the system also reports an eco score that helps young people to drive in a manner that minimises green house gas emissions." TEST DRIVEN One test-driving daughter thought it was a beeping nuisance and the other had a beeping-good time trying to make it beep. My daughters, Lucy and Alice, took turns test driving one of these BetterDriver devices in their Mazda2 and Suzuki Swift in a variety of weather conditions for a week. The first daughter - no, I'm not going to say which one - handed it back saying it drove her nuts: "It beeps every time I go around a corner." So I drove the car around the neighbourhood and couldn't get it to beep at all. Only when I drove aggressively did it start to beep. The second daughter also couldn't get it to beep. However, when she discovered how to do it, she tried to get it to beep more often, sort of defeating the purpose of the test. So the unit is flawed right from the start by the attitude of the driver. It's also flawed because it doesn't take account of driving conditions such as rain and visibility in fog or at night.  Better Driver also doesn't adjust for the type of vehicle. For example, a modern small car with stability control and ABS (such as our girls' cars) can handle more G forces than, say, a fully loaded old ute on bald tyres. It's a cheap way of monitoring your children's driving and where they are going, but money would be better spent sending them to an advanced driving course.