Safety

Want to get drunk and then get driven home by a learner? Move to West Australia, the only state or territory where supervising drivers can be over the 0.05 alcohol limit.

Fines for cyclists who break the law will more than triple and cyclists will be forced to carry photo ID under sweeping changes to road rules by the state government.Roads Minister Duncan Gay also announced that NSW will trial a minimum distance of 1m for cars passing cyclists — with motorists to be fined $319 for driving dangerously close to bike riders.Drivers will now be required to leave at least a metre's distance when passing cyclists if travelling up to 60km/h and 1.5m if they are travelling faster than 60km/h.Fines for cyclists will shoot up from a blanket $71 penalty for not wearing a helmet to $319 while cyclists running a red light will now incur a penalty of $425.The fine for riding dangerously will increase to $425, to $319 for holding on to a motor vehicle and $425 for not stopping at a children's/pedestrian crossing. But Mr Gay has dumped suggestions that cyclists would be forced to be licensed or have registration.The changes come after a year of consultation with cycling and pedestrian lobby groups, NSW Police and the state government.Mr Gay said that more work had to be done before deciding whether cyclists needed to be insured."Some of the initiatives suggested in early days including a licence, including registration were rejected by the committee, to come together with a more holistic plan that everyone supported," Mr Gay said."This is important for saving lives and that's what we need to be about."The changes come into effect in March, and Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said the tougher penalties would mean more cyclists obeying the rules."What we know is that if you are involved in a crash you are 60 per cent more likely to suffer a severe brain injury if you are not wearing a helmet," Mr Carlon said.Amy Gillett foundation chairman Mark Textor, who has been lobbying for the minimum distance rule for cars driving near cyclists, said the change would save lives."Cycle safety and road safety is a two-way street — mutual respect on our roads and the law is encouraging that," he said.

A double demerit points scheme could be introduced to stem the tide of deaths on Territory roads after a horror year.

I thought the new absolute requirement in safety features was auto emergency braking. I don't see that as a consideration in choosing your Car of the Year. If, as I believe, the Sorento does not have it, then that will be the number one if not the sole reason to not buy the car.

Shorter days mean more time driving in the dark of night or the semi-darkness of dawn or dusk, which limits visibility. Throw in rain, hail, snow and fog, and it's even harder to see.To combat it we need to do everything we can within our power to enhance our visibility.The first barrier to good visibility is the windscreen and windows through which we view the road ahead and what is around us.It's fundamentally important to regularly clean the windscreen as well as the side and rear windows to enhance our visibility in all directions.Don't just clean them on the outside; also clean them on the inside to remove the accumulation of plasticisers and cigarette smoke and other airborne contaminants that clouds our view of the outside world.Using hot water on a cold windscreen will almost certainly crack itOn really cold winter mornings we often wake to find our windows covered with ice and in our rush to get on the road we're tempted to clear it away using hot water.Using hot water on a cold windscreen will almost certainly crack it. Use cold water straight from the tap, it's warm enough to melt the ice and you won't damage your windscreen.Make sure your wipers are operating correctly, that's on low speed, high speed, and intermittent settings.Also check the wiper blades and replace them if they're showing signs of wear. Consider replacing them even if they're not, they're cheap and can be replaced in a matter of minutes.Also make sure the windscreen washers are working, that there are no blockages in the nozzles, and they're aimed correctly at the wiped area of the windscreen.Make it a routine to check the windscreen washer reservoir and keep it topped up with a mix of water and anti-freeze as per the carmaker's recommendations. If you're not sure check your owner's manual.Don't forget to check the wipers and washers on the headlights.We rely even more on our lights in the winter months, so it's a good time to check they're all working.Switch on the lights and walk around the car checking the headlights – on low and high beam – the parking lights, tail lights and turn indicators, including the side repeater lamps.With the engine turned off, but the ignition switched on, place the transmission into reverse and check that the reversing lamps are operating.Check the emergency warning flashers are all operating, they will be of vital importance if you're stuck on the side of the road.Finally, check that all brake lights are working. You might need someone else to check the lights for you while you apply the brakes from the driver's seat, but if you can't find anyone to help out the reflection in a shop window can be useful.Repair any lights that are not working, replacing a globe is a simple job that only takes a few minutes.Keeping the windscreen and other windows clear of mist is the job of the heater/demister or air-conditioner so make sure they're working and efficiently demisting the windows.The air-conditioning system is more effective at demisting the windows than the heater/demister because it removes the moisture from the air that actually causes the misting.While you're at it check the rear window wiper, washer and demister to make sure they are all in good working order.Batteries come under extra strain during winter when they have to power the lights, wipers and washers, heaters and air-conditioners, and have enough left over to turn over a cranky engine on cold mornings.It's usually on those freezing cold mornings deep in winter when batteries call it quits.Before it gets to that check the battery. Remove any build-up on the battery posts terminals to ensure there is good contact.If you need to replace the battery do it with one that has sufficient cold cranking power to handle the load in your car.The tread on our tyres plays a vital role when the roads are wet. The function of the tread is to pump water away from the contact patch where the tyre contacts the road.As the tread wears down its efficiency to remove water from the contact patch is reduced, and beyond the legal tread depth limit it's virtually useless.Before winter takes hold inspect your tyres for tread wear and measure the depth of the tread. If they're heavily worn replace them.Don't forget the spare.It's also important to maintain the correct inflation pressure in the tyres. By doing that you'll ensure that the tread area in contact with the road is at its most effective.

Being prepared for them before you leave home will help you cope when you're faced with them.Before you leave check that your car will handle the tough challenges it will face in snow areas.Check your tyres, lights, wipers, and washers to make sure everything is in good working order.RELATED: For more information on preparing your car for winter check our handy hints guide here.Temperatures are likely to be well below zero in ski areas, which really tests your car's battery, particularly when you come to start your car first thing in the morning.Make sure the battery terminals are clean and the clamps are tight.A battery typically lasts three to five years, so if yours is getting near that age have it checked by a battery retailer or a tyre store. It's better to spend the money on a new battery rather than risk being stranded in a ski area with a dead one.Carry jumper cables with you to get you going if your battery struggles in the cold.Having jumper cables with you might also help get someone else going.The coolant used in today's cars is a mix of water and anti-freeze. The anti-freeze increases the temperature to boil, enabling our cars to better handle the hot weather, but perhaps more importantly it prevents our engines from freezing in the sort of cold conditions you would expect to find in ski areas.Ensure the coolant in your engine is of the correct mix to cope with the temperatures you are likely to find in ski areas.If you're not sure about it check your car's owner's manual, or ask for advice at your local auto store.While you're at it make sure the windscreen washers also have anti-freeze so they don't freeze up and stop working when you most need them.Before you enter the snowfield plan to stop and fill your car with fuel.If you're driving a diesel fill with alpine-mix diesel fuel so the fuel system doesn't freeze in the cold conditions. It's worth checking ahead of time to find the service stations stocking the winter blend fuel that are closest to the ski fields.A car with a dual-fuel LPG/petrol system should be switched to petrol before you get to the snow area and run on petrol while you're in the ski area.It's a good idea to top up your fuel tank, whether petrol or diesel, with fuel before heading up the mountain in case you have to stop for an extended period for any reason and need to keep your engine running to stay warm.Before doing anything break out the owner’s manual and read the manufacturer’s recommendations for driving in the snow.Snow chains cannot be fitted to every wheel and tyre combination sold here in Australia, so check your owner’s manual to make sure that you can fit chains to the wheel and tyre combination fitted to your car.Many sporty cars are sold in this country with high-performance summer tyres that are not ideal for driving in the snow.If you’re a regular visitor to snow areas consider fitting winter tyres to your car.Drivers entering a snowfield in Victoria must carry snow chains in their cars, and must fit them when directed to do so.The Victorian law applies to all vehicles, whether two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.In New South Wales, it's only drivers of two-wheel drive vehicles who are required to carry chains.Four-wheel drives are not required to carry chains in New South Wales, but it's highly recommended that they be carried, particularly if the driver is inexperienced in alpine driving conditions.When required chains must be fitted to the drive wheels of the vehicle. That means the front wheels on a front-wheel drive vehicle and the rear wheels on a rear-wheel drive vehicle.Practice fitting the chains so you're familiar with how to do it before you get to the snowfieldIf you drive a vehicle with on-demand all-wheel drive the chains should normally be fitted to the front wheels.On a vehicle with full-time four-wheel drive the chains should be fitted to the front wheels to aid with steering and braking.The chains must be suitable for fitment to the wheel diameter and the size of the tyres on your car. Go to your local tyre retailer for advice.Before you leave home practice fitting the chains so you're familiar with how to do it before you get to the snowfield and have to fit them on the side of the road in the cold and snow.When directed to by an authorised officer or when you see roadside signs instructing you to do so.There are special roadside bays at the entry points of the snowfields where you can pull over and fit chains safely.Driving in snow and on icy roads is challenging and drivers should always be prepared in the case of a breakdown, or worse, an unplanned off-road excursion.It's wise to have an emergency first-aid kit, torch, towrope and a spade in the car to help get you out of trouble.To cope with the cold in the event you have to get out of your car it's wise to have warm clothing, like a jacket, hat and gloves, with you.Driving in alpine conditions demands extra care. Lower your speed, allow more distance to brake, don't accelerate too hard and spin the wheels, and ease your way around bends with minimal throttle.All-wheel drive is a safer bet than two-wheel drive in slippery conditions, particularly for inexperienced drivers, but it still requires caution on the part of the driver.

Sensors are working overtime as new cars scan the road for crash risks. But what do all the fancy acronyms mean?Road safety used to be about how vehicles broke. Now it's about how they brake. In place of crumple zones, seatbelts and airbags to minimise harm in the event of an accident, carmakers are using sensors to try to avoid the crash in the first place.The array of TLAs (three-letter acronyms) marketing departments use to tout these technologies is as numerous as car brands themselves.These days, there's no reason to be impressed if a salesperson talks about standard ABS (anti-skid brakes), traction control or electronic stability control — by law all must be on every new passenger vehicle sold.And over the next few years, you can expect even more acronyms in the standard features list, as authorities look to mandate the fitment of more safety technology.The real surprise is that the cheaper, mainstream brands are offering similar technology to the luxury makers. Just last week, Skoda announced that autonomous braking would be standard on its cheapest car, the Fabia hatch, which starts at just $15,990 driveaway.The move shows how fundamentally cheap it can be to add lifesaving technology on the production line. And it embarrasses some of those prestige brands who continue to bundle sensor-based safety features in "packs" costing thousands of dollars.Sadly the same applies to basic tech such as reversing cameras. When a lens can be fitted to the rear of a $14,490 Honda Jazz there's little excuse not to have it on every car, let alone one with a six-figure price.CarsGuide looks at the latest technologies, most of which are available from mainstream brands, either as an option or as standard equipment.Adaptive cruise control is a must-have for those who travel long distances in Australia. Drivers can set the speed and the car uses radar sensors and/or cameras to gauge the distance to the vehicle in front and then maintain a gap, automatically braking and accelerating as required. Premium systems are fitted with a stop-and-go function that, as the name suggests, can bring the vehicle to a complete stop behind another car at the lights and then accelerate back up to speed as the traffic moves off.Touted as the next big thing in software-based safety, autonomous emergency braking (sometimes called active city stop) is the most ambitious integration of sensors applied to mass production cars.In its most basic form the software collates data from radar and lidar sensors and/or stereo cameras to determine the path and speed of objects ahead and to an arc either side of the vehicle.If the system calculates a probable collision it alerts the driver. Should the driver fail to react, the brakes are automatically engaged to slow or stop the vehicle.More advanced versions can detect humans, cyclists and large animals. Most systems are calibrated for city speeds; others will operate to highway limits.Australia's crash safety body, ANCAP, is pushing to have AEB standard on all new cars.A recent real-world study pointed to a 38 per cent reduction in rear-end crashes for AEB-equipped vehicles.Car makers use different terms for it, but adaptive front lighting systems allow the car's headlights to follow the curve of the road, improving vision at night. The system is calibrated with the steering so that when lock is applied, projector lamps in the front headlight housing move accordingly, adjusting the beam to follow the road.Adaptive highbeam assist is a boon for those who do a lot of night driving. Sensors scan the road ahead for oncoming traffic and slower moving vehicles and automatically dip the high beam when another vehicle is in dazzle range.LED headlamp-equipped models can dim individual segments of the beam, allowing the high-beam to stay on without dazzling the oncoming driver. Most systems are linked to the steering and will "turn" the light beam as steering lock is applied.Blind spot monitoring uses cameras or radar sensors to keep an eye on vehicles in adjoining lanes on a freeway. Passive versions typically have an orange warning light or logo in or on the side mirrors, which flashes if there is a car in your blind spot and beeps if you attempt to change lanes when it's not safe to do so. Active versions take it another step by braking or steering to hold the lane should the driver attempt to alter course when another vehicle has been detected.Emergency assistance technology can detect that the car has had a serious accident and automatically contact emergency services. The level of sophistication varies from car to car, but some will call the vehicle and dial 000 if there is no response, while others automatically call if the airbags are deployed.They can also provide the location of the crash to rescue authorities.As with BSM, lane departure warning comes in a variety of forms, from passive to more interventionist.If the car starts to wander out of its lane and the driver hasn't used the indicator to signal a lane change, the technology determines that the movement is accidental and will either emit a noise or vibrate the steering wheel to warn of the danger.While most systems only warn the driver, some will use steering input to keep the car on track. Some people love it, some switch it off.It is also sometimes teamed with driver fatigue alerts, which monitor steering inputs and detect if the person behind the wheel is becoming drowsy.Rear cross traffic alert helps avoid collisions when backing out of a parking spot or driveway. Sensors detect vehicles approaching from the left and the right and passive systems will issue a warning beep(s), while the active versions will physically brake the car to avoid the crash.The more advanced systems have another vital purpose — they can potentially avoid a driveway toddler tragedy.

Holidays should be fun, a time to enjoy a break from our regular work routines, to kick back and relax, but sadly many Australians have their lives touched by the tragedy of road trauma.

Going on a road trip with the family should be a fun adventure enjoyed by everyone, and with a little preparation before you leave home it can be.

The number of children having to be treated after being trapped in hot cars has soared by more than 40 per cent in the past year.