Safety

Three people were killed on South Australian roads last month - bucking a trend over the past four years where March was our most dangerous month.The equal lowest monthly road toll in March came after a horror Christmas and New Year period on the state's roads, with 20 deaths in December and 13 in January.The last time SA had three road fatalities recorded in a month was in September 2013.SA Police could not provide data from before January 2007 but it is understood last month's toll was the equal lowest on record.Police and Transport Department data showed there were a collective 57 deaths in March between 2010 and 2014 - more than any other month and equal to the number of deaths in January for the same time period.Police, the Motor Accident Commission and SA Government yesterday launched their Easter weekend road safety campaign.We urge people to plan and take rest breaksLast Easter, there were no deaths on the state's roads and nine serious injuries.Assistant Commissioner Linda Williams called for a back-to-back fatality-free Easter."This is about people making sensible decisions so they can spend Easter with their family," she said.Ms Williams said fatigue was prevalent during holiday periods, especially when people finished work on the eve of Good Friday and jumped into a car to get to their holiday destination."They've already done a day of work and are about to embark on a long journey," she said. "We urge people to plan and take rest breaks."Motor Accident Commission road safety general manager Michael Cornish said fatigue was responsible for 30 per cent of fatal crashes in SA.You won't get to your destination any quicker when the roads are busy by overtaking in dangerous circumstances"We've seen some very catastrophic crashes on our roads in the past few months as a result of fatigue," he said."What we see is extreme overtaking...in heavy traffic on holiday weekends. "Really all you're doing is overtaking a slow moving vehicle to catch up to the next slow moving vehicle."You won't get to your destination any quicker when the roads are busy by overtaking in dangerous circumstances." He urged people to take a 15-minute rest every two hours and be patient on the road.Road Safety Minister Tony Piccolo echoed advice given by police and the commission, saying shaving a few minutes off the drive time was not worth the risk of death.

The latest version of Australia's favourite people-mover, the Kia Carnival, has been slammed by safety experts in the latest round of crash tests.The new generation Kia Carnival has received just four stars out of five for crash safety at a time when most new cars earn top marks.The 2015 Kia Carnival scored just 10.48 out of 16 in the critical offset frontal crash testThe new model that went on sale last month priced from $39,490 was criticised by the independent safety authority ANCAP because there was "deformation" of the footwell area, "pedal movement was excessive" and "dash components were a potential source of knee injury for the driver".Despite being an all-new model, the 2015 Kia Carnival scored just 10.48 out of 16 in the critical offset frontal crash test (where the vehicle strikes a barrier at 64km/h); not much higher than the previous generation Kia Carnival released in 2006 which scored 9.81 out of 16.Vehicles must earn a minimum of 12.5 out of 16Several rival people movers score more than 13 out of 16, some more than 14 out of 16.Under ANCAP guidelines, vehicles must earn a minimum of 12.5 out of 16 in this part of the test to be eligible for further tests which might elevate it to a five-star safety rating.A statement issued by Kia in February indicated the sole reason the Carnival would not earn a five-star rating was the lack of seatbelt reminders for the back seats.The statement said in part: "Due to the absence of second row seatbelt reminders, a feature which became an ANCAP critical feature on January 1 (2015), the new Carnival will initially be eligible for a maximum 4-star ANCAP rating."The earlier Kia statement also claimed: "The new Carnival features a stronger structure than the outgoing model, with improved crash safety performance".We abide by the umpire's decisionKia says it plans to add seatbelt reminders in the second row (they are not an ANCAP requirement for third-row seats, even though it is a family car) in the coming months, but this change is unlikely to bump up the Carnival to a five-star rating according to ANCAP criteria.Kia Australia's chief operating officer Damien Meredith told News Corp Australia: "We abide by the umpire's decision and we're talking with our colleagues at Kia head office to make the necessary changes to bring this car up to a five-star rating."NRMA safety expert Jack Haley said it was disappointing that a vehicle synonymous with affordable family transport had "fallen behind the field"."The Carnival's latest competitors have all achieved a five-star rating," said Mr Haley. "Five stars might be the maximum score but it's our minimum expectation."The Kia Carnival has been Australia's biggest selling people mover for 10 of the past 11 years.It overtook the Toyota Tarago in 2004 and was Australia'a top selling people-mover until 2014, when it was outsold by the Honda Odyssey by a narrow margin.The new Kia Carnival was expected to reclaim its title as Australia's top-selling family van this year, but industry pundits believe the safety setback may blunt its sales.

More than 18,000 cars were reported stolen in 2014, equating to less than 0.5 per cent of the 4.5 million cars registered, the latest crime statistics say.Almost four in 10 thieves were aged 15-19, and 83 per cent were male. Police said it was worrying that a growing number of youths inexperienced behind the wheel, or too young to hold full licences, were stealing cars in search of a thrill."(Stolen cars) are mostly used to commit offences of joy-riding and other dangerous driving," Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Jack Blayney said."There are an increasing number of young offenders stealing vehicles. Taking cars for joy rides (places) themselves, the community and police in severe danger." The Crime Statistics Agency's report, released last week, also revealed that car thefts had risen 11.5 per cent from 2013, to 16,686. That figure had jumped 16.5 per cent compared with five years ago.Mr Blayney said three in four stolen cars were recovered within a year. But more than 70 per cent of last year's thefts remained unsolved as of January 18, and there were arrests in just 16.5 per cent of cases.More Holdens were stolen than any other make of car, at almost 2800. Nissans (2634), Toyotas (2337) and Fords (2140) were also favoured.The Hume area recorded the most vehicle thefts with 1064, while Darebin's 951 thefts gave it the highest rate of theft for its population.University student Kate knows the sinking feeling of having a car stolen all too well.The 21-year-old, who works part-time in retail, had just finished a nine-hour shift at Chadstone shopping centre about a month ago when she returned to find her vehicle gone.The older-model Nissan Pulsar was later found dumped at Ringwood, more than 20km away - no longer in working order and with bald tyres.Kate has since spent thousands of dollars for repairs, and on a replacement car while it was fixed, as well as excesses on her car insurance.The theft occurred as she was preparing to resume her university studies, forcing her to hitch lifts from her family and friends."It's not really the nicest thing to come back to," Kate said. "There is the financial burden, of course, and then there is also just the complete inconvenience of it." 16,686 offences recorded by Victoria Police Up 11.5% on 201318,097 cars reported stolen11,090 stolen cars recovered12,119 thefts were unsolved Holdens the most commonly stolen make (2791)Hume council area recorded the highest number of vehicle thefts (1064)August had the most car thefts (1512)2751 thefts resulted in arrest361 thefts resulted in summons83% of offenders were male39% of offenders were aged 15-19Source: Crime Statistics Agency

Almost twice as many South Australian P-plate drivers are being caught driving under the influence of drugs as those caught with alcohol in their system, latest figures show.

One in four SUVs still lack rear view cameras – even though the technology is now standard on a $14,990 hatchback.

A blitz by NSW Police and the NSW Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) has revealed an alarming number of light and heavy trucks with excessive loads, unsecured cargo, or with tampered speed limiters.In one case, a speed limiter had been altered to allow a truck to travel upwards of 150km/h.Operation Containment inspected nearly 700 vehicles over five days, and found a startling 66 per cent were in breach of maximum load capacities, or needed their loads adjusted to be properly secured.The risks are too high, it simply must improveThe driver pictured above will face court along with the truck's operator on charges of weight, width, height and restraint breaches for substantially overloading a light truck and trailer with pallets.RMS Director of Safety and Compliance, Peter Wells, said the message about road safety "is clearly not getting through to some"."The risks are too high, it simply must improve and we will drive that," he said.Guidelines on preparing your vehicle, trailer and load for towing are available on the RMS website.

In the US, more than 64,000 Chevrolet Volt electric cars are being recalled, which is expected to prompt a recall of more than 200 Holden versions next week.

Mobile phone road rage is breaking out as some drivers photograph others texting and talking and order them to stop.

An increase in the number of mobile speed camera enforcement hours from 900 to 7000 hours a month has helped boost the government's coffers after it issued just 26,453 fines in the 2013-14 financial year, netting $4.9 million.In the seven months to January this year, the NSW state government has already issued 40,912 fines and raised $8.3 million.Public anger over the explosion in mobile speed camera fines can only be soothed by giving motorists better warning before they get busted, the NRMA says.The $8.3 million cash bonanza for the government has sparked a five-fold increase in attacks on camera cars, with 82 instances so far this financial year of objects being thrown, verbal abuse and cars swerving towards operators.The NRMA believes hidden signs that don't even display the speed limit, anonymous camera cars and little distance between sign and camera are fuelling the rage.These measures that we are suggesting will make it fairer and should slow people down before they get fined"There has been a seven-fold increase in enforcement hours for mobile speed cameras, which has given rise to a perception of unfairness among motorists," NRMA president Kyle Loades said."The NRMA is aiming to address those perceptions and help reinforce the message that mobile speed cameras are about road safety, not revenue."These measures that we are suggesting will make it fairer and should slow people down before they get fined."The plan involves displaying speed limits on mobile speed camera signs, greater distance between the signs and the cameras, and high-visibility markings on camera vehicles.The organisation, which represents 2.4 million motorists, also wants the government to conduct a yearly audit to guarantee the cameras are put only in proven black spots.NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay hinted the government may make some changes."We always welcome constructive dialogue and it's fantastic to see the NRMA put forward sensible safety recommendations, which I've asked our roads safety experts to look at."

It was a scene straight from Gone in 60 Seconds or Grand Theft Auto, except it wasn't Hollywood. It was an industrial estate in Dandenong.