Who wants a self driving car?

http://mashable.com/2012/04/29/self-driving-cars/?utm_source=iphoneapp

Who wants a self driving car? Researchers at J.D. Power and Associates conducted a study to find out who would be willing to buy a car with such futuristic features, and the reaction was certainly not unanimous. In this video, Adam Falk shows you a few self-driving cars and explains the results of the study.

With the emphasis on infotainment in new cars and the numerous distractions it brings, along with the burgeoning plague of texting drivers, this new technology can’t come a moment too soon, in our opinion.

How about you? Would you be willing to pay a few thousand dollars for features in your car that could, say, do the driving for you in bumper-to-bumper traffic? Or would you rather wait for others to fully test the technology before you get behind the wheel and do nothing?

No more speeding tickets -SpeedAlert-Live the free app that protects your driving license from the risks of unintentional speeding.  www.speedalertlive.com

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safe driving was an important part of the coal industry's effort to improve its safety record."

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/new-road-safety-guidelines-for-mine-workers/2537573.aspx?src=rss

New road safety guidelines for mine workers
IAN KIRKWOOD
29 Apr, 2012 06:18 AM
NEW road safety guidelines for mine workers driving to and from mining sites will be launched this evening by Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher.
Mr Hartcher is the guest of honour at a NSW Minerals Council conference dinner tonight at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley at Cessnock.

Federal shadow finance spokesman Andrew Robb will address the conference tomorrow morning.

More than 550 people are expected to attend the conference, which runs until lunchtime Wednesday.

Minerals NSW chief executive Stephen Galilee said the guidelines had been developed by the council as part of the Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue.

Mr Hartcher said safe driving was an important part of the coal industry's effort to improve its safety record.

"The new recommended guidelines encourage NSW mining companies to ensure their employees are maintaining safe practices not only when driving to and from mining operations but at all times," Mr Hartcher said.

Insurance Telematics in the US: Ready to Grow?

http://uk.telematicsupdate.com/fc_tele_evupdatelz/lz.aspx?p1=052584S7321&CC=&p=1&cID=0&cValue=1

Insurance Telematics in the US: Ready to Grow?

The Insurance Telematics USA 2012 conference will gather insurance carriers, regulatory officials, DOT managers and consultants to discuss upcoming standards and state level regulatory criteria regarding UBI and insurance telematics.

The line-up includes Towers Watson, amongst other experts, who will reveal the key sales models and tactics to speed up UBI penetration rates. Complete your details on the right to download the brochure. >>

Why usage-based insurance is poised for growth in the US, despite low consumer awareness

To the industry optimist, insurance telematics in the US is surging. Progressive, one of the largest auto insurers in America, has launched SnapShot, a pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) insurance program available in two-thirds of the country.

The program tracks miles driven, amount of time, time of day, and speed, and presents it all through an online reporting tool.

GMAC insurance group, meanwhile, offers a Low Mileage Discount to GM drivers who own OnStar and drive less than 15,000 miles a year. The program is available in more than 30 states.

For more insight into speeding up UBI penetration download the Insurance Telematics USA conference brochure. >>

Research from industry analyst Towers Watson suggests that 60 percent of the personal auto insurance market in the US is covered by insurers that offer some form of a usage-based insurance (UBI) program.

Robin Harbage, a director at Towers Watson and a long-time veteran of the insurance telematics space (he oversaw deployment of TripSense, one of Progressive’s predecessors to SnapShot, in its first three states) says that 10 of the top 25 insurance companies in the country have gone public with UBI programs, including Liberty Mutual (Onboard Advisor), State Farm (Drive Safe & Save), and Allstate (Drive Wise).

An additional six of the top 25 are currently piloting programs.

“The data companies collect from these programs can become a competitive tool with potentially huge benefits,” says Harbage. “Those benefits will go to the first movers. The industry is catching on, which is why it’s starting to explode.”

Learn about key sales models and tactics to speed up penetration rates at Insurance Telematics USA 2012. Complete your details on the right to download the brochure. >>

Not yet mainstream

To the industry pessimist, however, it’s a less compelling story. Yes, many auto insurers offer programs in select states, but few, if any, of these programs have become mainstream successes. “Usage-based insurance” or similar terms like “pay-as-you-drive” are yet to enter the popular lexicon in America.

While studies have shown that as many as 30 percent of US citizens would consider UBI offerings, far fewer than that actually know these offerings exist.

State-based regulatory issues make it difficult to roll out nationwide programs and occasionally challenge insurers’ ability to deploy telematics in a useful way on a regional level.

California, for instance, limits the parameters that companies can use in pricing. Furthermore, insurance providers continue to wrestle with practical ways to offset the cost of device acquisition, installation, and operating costs without asking drivers to incur some of the expense.

Learn about key sales models and tactics to speed up penetration rates at Insurance Telematics USA 2012. Complete your details on the right to download the brochure. >>

All of the active programs in the US are currently incentive-based offerings; they provide the possibility of a discount without the equal possibility of a rate increase.

John Canali, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, says that some people propose “all sorts of funny math to justify” the business case behind insurance telematics in the US.

As device costs continue to decrease and OEMs embed telematics solutions in new vehicles, the business case will grow, but “everything is still in its infancy,” he says.

Waiting for a breakthrough

Experts, optimistic and pessimistic alike, agree that the US insurance telematics market is on the cusp of a breakthrough and that several forces could provide the spark to bring it into the mainstream.

First, as OEMs start to embed telematics solutions before cars trundle off the factory line, it helps deflect much of the cost for insurers. That’s why embedded solutions like OnStar have proven attractive to insurers like GMAC and State Farm, whose Drive Safe & Save program is available only to drivers with OnStar activated.

“If you envision a time when cars already come equipped with telematics, it’s ideal for the insurance industry because no one has to worry about hardware,” says Trautsch.

Learn about key sales models and tactics to speed up penetration rates in the US at Insurance Telematics USA 2012. Complete your details on the right to download the brochure>>

“You simply tell clients they have telematics on board, and they can sign up for these programs. The OEM model makes this very feasible.”

According to management consultancy A.T. Kearney, upward of 40 percent of vehicles in the US made in the 2010 model year have some sort of embedded solution.

If that trend continues, it makes the business case for insurance telematics far more compelling.

Bringing UBI to the Masses

Insurance Telematics USA 2012 will explore how to design bespoke UBI products and assess key sales, business model and mass management tactics to speed up penetration rates in the US. Topics include:

• New revenue streams available through UBI to secure strategic relationships with key players, such as OEMs, wireless carriers and insurers, to maximize returns

• How the industry can establish standards for data collection and sharing to protect consumer privacy, whilst exploiting the full potential of UBI

• Maximize the Govt. benefits, such as tax credits, and overcome the barriers to service distribution

Over half (57%) of all drivers expect to switch to a telematics-based car insurance policy by 2017 according to research from Gocompare.com

http://www.news9.com/story/17563251/over-half-57-of-all-drivers-expect-to-switch-to-a-telematics-based-car-insurance-policy-by-2017-according-to-research-from-gocomparecom


NEWPORT, Wales, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Fifty-seven per cent of drivers believe they will switch to a telematics or "black box" insurance policy in the next five years, according to a new study* from Gocompare.com.

The study into the relationship between driving habits and insurance found that a wide cross-section of motorists are open to the idea of telematics-based car insurance. In fact, 59 per cent of over 55s said they may switch to one of these policies in the next five years and 19 per cent of all drivers were happy to consider it at their next renewal.

However, the research also identified the issues which have held back the sector until now, including low levels of awareness, the lack of big name insurers and evidence of real savings in terms of premiums and fuel costs.

The survey highlighted the strong underlying support for car insurance premiums based primarily on the way you drive, not on age and gender, with careful drivers rewarded with cheaper premiums:

92 per cent of drivers think that their car insurance premiums should be based largely on the way they drive;
97 per cent think careful drivers should be rewarded with cheaper insurance;
60 per cent think that car insurance premiums should be based on where they drive and the time of day;
Only 49 per cent think premiums should be based largely on age and gender.
Scott Kelly, head of car insurance at Gocompare.com commented, "Over the last few years we've seen car insurance premiums reach record highs. The outlook for 2012 is little better with further increases expected, as well as a degree of uncertainty for young drivers once the European Court of Justice gender ruling takes effect; insurers will no-longer be able to take gender into account when calculating premiums.

"Most insurers currently price their policies based on a series of generalisations around claims experience, location, age, sex and the type of car. Most don't consider an individual's actual driving habits until they have built up a record of safe, claim-free or incident-free driving over a number of years and have subsequently earned a no-claims discount. According to insurance companies, young drivers - particularly males - are most likely to make claims and therefore face the highest premiums. The average shop around premium for a driver aged between 17 and 22 is £2,497**, nearly treble the average price. While this group has potentially the most to gain from "black box" car insurance, with an average saving of £521 achieved with insurethebox telematics insurance***, the concept appears to have broad appeal."

Gocompare.com's research also outlined the steps the industry still needs to take to make "black box" car insurance policies more attractive to consumers:

75 per cent of drivers would expect cheaper car insurance premiums
54 per cent would like regular incentives in terms of discounts and special deals
43 per cent think more awareness of the benefits of behaviour-based policies would be beneficial
40 per cent would like savings on fuel by driving better or less
35 per cent want to see big insurance brands offering behaviour-based policies
33 per cent would like to be able to access data on their driving behaviour via a PC-based dashboard
29 per cent would appreciate advice on how to improve their driving based on their own data

Scott Kelly concluded, "Given the rising costs of motoring, we think that the new generation of telematics car insurance policies will play a greater role in the car insurance market in the coming months. And, as our survey shows, many drivers, across all age groups, would happily embrace the new in-car technology in a bid to keep their premiums down."

Telematics technology operates via a small black box, roughly the size of a mobile phone, which is fitted to your car and measures driving behaviours such as time of travel, distance, types of roads used, speed, levels of acceleration and braking and accidents. The insurer uses this information to generate a risk profile for your driving and charge a premium accordingly. Policyholders also benefit from access to an online portal where they can monitor their driving behaviour, which may help them assess ways to better improve their skills or reduce their mileage, and a tracking facility should the car be stolen.

Gocompare.com currently offers car insurance quotes from insurethebox and coverbox.

http://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/telematics-car-insurance/

* Research commissioned by Gocompare.com. On 7th to 8th February, 2012 Vision Critical conducted an online survey among 2,008 British drivers with their own car insurance policy who are Springboard UK panellists.

**According to the AA's benchmark British Insurance Premium Index dated 19th January 2012

***Customers saved an average £521 on their car insurance with insurethebox (based on a survey of 850 customers between 15/11/2010 to 17/08/2011)

Notes to editors:

SA Drivers flout police warnings

http://www.murrayvalleystandard.com.au/news/local/news/general/drivers-flout-police-warnings/2527103.aspx?src=rss

A POLICE clampdown during the five-day Easter break has shown drivers are failing to listen to road safety messages.
South Australians made up 49 of the 2000 people caught drink driving and 20 of the 175 who recorded positive drug tests in the operation which spanned across Australia and New Zealand.

More than 35,000 drivers were caught speeding and 3500 licence offences were recorded across both countries during the period.

Australia New Zealand Police Advisory Agency chief executive officer Jon White said Operation Crossroads was timed during Easter to remind motorists speeding was a major contributor to road trauma.

“It is regrettable that we have to continually highlight to people the danger their driving behaviour poses to their own safety and that of other road users,” he said.

More than 200 police officers manned static and mobile driver testing units across South Australia during the operation.

In the Murraylands, a 43-year-old Murray Bridge man was allegedly caught driving on Swanport Road with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.294 per cent during the early hours of April 6.

One life was lost on South Australian roads during the Easter break, while 11 road-related deaths were recorded across Australia.

School zone speed limits – why do some people comply only sometimes?

http://www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/News.woa/wa/goNewsPage?newsEventID=42897
School zone speed limits – why do some people comply only sometimes?

Speed surveys show many drivers still exceed the school zone speed limit and a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) study aims to find out why.

School zones have lower speed limits before and after school in order to keep children safe and QUT is looking for a range of drivers to take part in its study so it can propose ways to encourage drivers to comply with the speed limit.

PhD student from the Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), Suhaila Abdul Hanan, said the number of drivers being booked for speeding within school zones had steadily increased over the past few years: 12,335 in 2009, almost 16,000 in 2010, and 8,822 in just the first six months of last year.

"As these figures are based on the number of drivers caught speeding, the real figure is probably somewhat higher," she said.

"This is cause for concern, because the likelihood of pedestrian fatalities increases markedly for every kilometre over the speed limit a vehicle travels.

"Children aged five to nine are particularly vulnerable because they're harder to see and less able to deal with traffic. While children in the 10 to 14 year old age bracket often understand how to cross the road safely, they may not always do so."

Ms Abdul Hanan said driver behaviour in school zones could be influenced by a number of factors including the volume of traffic, the number of children about, habitual behaviours, being in a hurry, and unfamiliarity with the road.

Her research will provide insights into why some drivers always comply with the school zone speed limit, some never, and others only sometimes.

Ms Abdul Hanan is looking for drivers over 18 years of age who hold a valid Australian driver's licence to undertake a two-part online survey. The time needed to complete both of the surveys is 30 minutes and the results should be available in about three months.

"It is my hope that this research will provide information that will help to make school zones safer places for children."

No more speeding tickets -SpeedAlert-Live the free app that protects your driving license from the risks of unintentional speeding.  www.speedalertlive.com

Found this Blog interesting?  Please consider sharing.

U-turn needed on license suspension system

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/44234.html

Despite the recent relaxing of the driver demerit points in NSW there is another black spot that appears to be a blind spot across all Australian jurisdictions. When accumulated demerit points lead to license suspension, innocent family members can be punished more than the offender.

Unrestricted license holders can accumulate 13 points instead of 12 over a three-year period, and the demerit points for 22 existing offences were either reduced or deleted. This may score some timely merit points for the ailing state government that itself has accumulated enough demerit points to warrant its own license suspension in the forthcoming election. But it stops short of delivering on a wider brief that was given to the a working party who were to examine sanctions other than demerit points such as completing driver education, and restricted licenses instead of license suspensions to “alleviate family hardship”.

Having recently attended a funeral of an elderly lady who was tragically killed by a speeding motorist, I am acutely aware of the permanent devastation that this causes the family members. But I am also frustrated by the disregard given to innocent family members as a result of one family member having their license suspended. Their temporary hardship may lead to more permanent problems that research is yet to bear out.

When my work colleague had her license suspended due to accumulated demerit points, she had to walk her children to school. With her multiple sclerosis, this takes 40-minutes each way, each day. She would arrive to work late and aching every day, jeopardising her livelihood. She resorted to online shopping which impacted on the family budget. She had to pay for taxis to attend her specialist appointments. Her children missed so many sports training sessions after school that they had to withdraw.

The domino effect within the family cannot be over-stated. She insists that if punishment had to be meted out, this humiliation instantaneously took place when the police issued the fine and she was reduced to tears. But everything else that followed did not drill in the lesson any deeper. It merely spilled out to punish innocent family members who developed a contempt for these ‘blind spot’ laws. When she pleaded in writing to prevent these hardships, she received a standard letter of rejection.

Another friend had been abandoned by an adulterous husband, and struggled to maintain her children’s extra-curricula life as she was now rushing on her own. When speeding fines resulted in license suspension, she was stigmatised by her family and her children felt like lepers. Her son became the last person to be picked up from school, compounding the grief of separated parents, resulting in more social isolation when he most needed support.

Another acquaintance is a carer for her sister with Down Syndrome and was incriminated in an accident where she was merely a witness. When she pleaded with the magistrate regarding her dependent and disabled sister, she was told that she should have thought about that before doing the crime.

Similarly, another carer I know looks after her elderly father who was recently diagnosed with cancer. He depended on her to transport him to his plethora of forthcoming appointments, and the licence suspension will hurt him more than her.

A young relative had her license suspended during a double demerit long weekend. The police officer was hiding behind a tree on a road with a steep descent. Given the topography, every car was issued with a speeding fine, like fish in a net. The officer tried to placate my devastated daughter with “it is all a mater of luck”. I thought it was supposed to be a matter of safety.

Moreover, it is a matter of money. Not just the money made by the State Debt Recovery Office, but the money the motorist possesses, as those who can afford the technologies of cruise control and navigators are literally better equipped to prevent this bad luck with the “speed camera ahead” and ‘exceeding speed limit” and “school zone ahead” verbal warnings.

She had to sacrifice her part-time employment, her father had to leave his own employment for an hour a day to drive his children home from school, then make up for it after hours, which meant much less family time each night. She also had to sacrifice her dance classes, after 14 years of continuity, which threw her so far behind that she never returned.

As there was no way she could afford the fine, court costs, and enrolment into police community youth club, this directly impacted on the entire family’s budget.

This should not be an issue of political point scoring, but a matter of ensuring that the penalty reaches the target person without causing such severe hardship to dependent family members.

The entire licence suspension regime should be reviewed. While the offender may be devastated on day one, their family and dependents pay a premium price for the rest of the three months. Proposals such as restricted driving and compulsory driver education are effective in other countries and indeed have merit in Australia.

Joseph Wakim established the Streetwork Project for exploited children in Adelaide in 1986, was appointed Victorian Multicultural Affairs Commissioner in 1991, and founded the Australian Arabic Council in 1992.

Drive dangerously and pay the price (higher insurance premiums)

http://www.ratecity.com.au/car-insurance/news/drive-dangerously-and-pay-the-price

June 15, 2011
The number of speeding fines and drunk drivers caught over the Queen's Birthday long weekend in NSW was significantly less than this time last year, the NSW Police Force says. Yet three lives were lost in NSW over the long weekend.
Over the three-day break 3412 motorists were caught driving at above the speed limit and 237 drivers over the legal blood-alcohol limit, as police targeted dangerous driving behaviour on the state's roads.
While that was 1068 fewer fines issued for speeding and 199 less drink-driving offences recorded, it's way too many. And if the safety aspect alone doesn't convince drivers, maybe this timely reminder that dangerous driving can cost a lot more than a hefty fine will assist.
The financial costs of driving dangerously
What many drivers may not realise is that a dangerous driving offence or losing your licence could double your comprehensive car insurance excess.
Damian Smith, chief executive of RateCity, says that comprehensive car insurance providers won't directly penalise their customers for losing a few demerit points from speeding if your licence is intact. But that dangerous driving or loss of licence could double your excess.
That's because insurers can charge drivers extra or even refuse cover in some circumstances at their discretion.
"Many drivers may not realise that losing all of your points or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol could impact the cost of your comprehensive car insurance for the next five years or longer, depending on your car insurance provider," he says.
Those most at risk of paying higher excess include drivers who have lost their licence or have restrictions because they are seen as being a greater risk to insure. Some of the biggest players in the country are able to double your excess at their discretion, according to information supplied during a mystery shopping exercise.

No more speeding tickets -SpeedAlert-Live the free app that protects your driving license from the risks of unintentional speeding.  www.speedalertlive.com

Found this Blog interesting?  Please consider sharing.

Drivers warned to obey school speed limits

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-17/drivers-warned-to-obey-school-speed-limits/3954468/?site=&source=rss

Gippsland police are warning motorists to slow down around schools as students return from holidays this week.

Speed limits of 40 kilometres per hour are back in force around schools at peak times.

Acting Sergeant Andy Milbourne, from the highway patrol, says motorists need to drive carefully around schools, because young children can be unpredictable.

"A lot of younger kids tend to dart in and out of cars and they're not as road wise when it comes to having the knowledge of how fast cars go and where they can go," he said.

"So drivers just need to be on their mettle and just make sure that they are keeping a keen eye out for kids darting in and out of cars as well."

Friday’s road safety forum is a must

http://sale.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/fridays-road-safety-forum-is-a-must/2522993.aspx?src=rss

IF your son or daughter is about to get behind the wheel of a car for the first time, then Friday night’s free community forum in Sale should not be missed.
In fact it should be on the ‘must do’ list of not only parents, but their teenage children as well.

The forum will feature the important element of driver education however guests will hear from those in our community who are first on the scene of an accident — police, SES volunteers and CFA volunteers.

Accident victim Lou Stewart from Heyfield, left a quadriplegic after a road accident, will also bravely tell her story.

The Talk the Toll Down campaign is an initiative of the Traffic Accident Commission and country newspapers, including the Gippsland Times.

As a journalist, I have reported on many road accidents over the years, some involving people I know but most, people I don’t know.

I have interviewed and cried with heartbroken family members trying to come to terms with their loss.

I have interviewed frustrated police who are doing their best to stop people from dying on our roads or from suffering horrific injuries.

As general manager of the Times, I have seen firsthand the devastated looks on people’s faces as they come in to our office to place death notices in the paper for their loved ones whose lives have been cut tragically short.

How do we stop this terrible waste of lives? If we had all the answers we would, but unfortunately we don’t.

However there are many in our community who will never give up trying, the Times included.

Friday’s free community forum will be held in the Sale Memorial Hall supper room from 6pm. A panel comprising Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan, Wellington Shire mayor Cr Peter Cleary and representatives from the police, CFA and SES will speak. There will then be an opportunity for questions from the audience.

Please help us Talk the Toll Down for the sake of all of us on the roads.

Sarah's dad collects signatures on safety

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/sarahs-dad-collects-signatures-on-safety-20120417-1x4kz.html

SYDNEY, April 17 AAP - The father of a young woman fatally run down by a truck driver will present a petition calling for safer highway breakdown lanes in NSW.

Sarah Frazer, 23, died on February 15 after her car had broken down on the Hume Highway, south of Mittagong, in the state's Southern Highlands.

Advertisement: Story continues below
Tow truck driver Geoff Clark, 40, was also killed after he had stopped to help.

Ms Frazer's father, Peter Frazer, said the breakdown lane where they died was narrow and dangerous, and is presenting a petition calling on state parliament to debate the need for breakdown lanes to be at least 2.5 metres wide.

The group Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) has collected 12,000 signatures during the past four weeks, more than the required 10,000 needed to spark a parliamentary debate.

"We started the petition last month to ensure that no other family loses loved ones in such preventable circumstances," Mr Frazer said in a statement.

"The section of road where my Sarah and Geoff Clark were killed is so dangerous that police closed off the lane so that our family could safely lay a wreath for her."

Mr Frazer said he had noticed other breakdown lanes were just as dangerous.

He wants the law changed so drivers would be required to slow down to half the posted speed limit and move to a lane away from a vehicle with the hazard lights on.

At Mr Clark's funeral, Mr Frazer met tow truck driver Danny Whittaker, who was angered by his mate's needless death.

Mr Whittaker wants the law to be amended so drivers are required to slow to 40km/h on freeways when passing emergency personnel in breakdown lanes.

"He called it the 'Highlander Law' in honour of Geoff Clark's company, Highlander Towing," Mr Frazer said.

The petition has the support of the Police Association of NSW, Fire Brigade Employees' Union (NSW), Motor Traders Association of NSW and the Emergency Medical Service Protection Association.

A truck driver was charged over the deaths in March.

Campbell Newman dumps Police Minister David Gibson over allegations he drove while suspended

http://www.news.com.au/national/campbell-newman-dumps-police-minister-david-gibson-over-driving-allegation/story-e6frfkvr-1226329900816

Campbell Newman dumps Police Minister David Gibson over allegations he drove while suspended

David Gibson quits after driving unlicensed and speeding
Campbell Newman revealed he received a personal warning
One of the shortest MPs in the job at just 14 days


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/campbell-newman-dumps-police-minister-david-gibson-over-driving-allegation/story-e6frfkvr-1226329900816#ixzz1sGOIOGFI

Helping parents teach learners how to drive

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/3631-helping-parents-teach-learners-how-to-drive-.html

Monday, 16 April 2012

From the Minister for Roads
Parents now have an online resource, 'Lessons from the Road,' to help them fulfill their vital role as supervisors of learner drivers, Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said today.

Mr Mulder said parents play a crucial role in helping learner drivers become safer P platers.

"Learning to drive is an important partnership between the learner driver and their supervisor, providing the foundations for safe solo driving," Mr Mulder said.

"Research shows that learners who gain experience with parents have about a 20 per cent lower crash and traffic offence rates once they are licensed than learners who only take professional lessons.

"The role of supervising a learner driver often lands on a parent or relative who may need some help remembering what it is like to be a new driver.

"Lessons from the Road contains tips on managing the stages of learning to drive, dealing with challenges along the way and helping young drivers to stay safe on the roads once they get their P plates."

Mr Mulder said Lessons from the Road is easy to use and can be accessed anywhere at anytime. The eight short videos follow the stories of three learner drivers and their parents, showcasing the emotions and real life issues involved in learning to drive. It complements the VicRoads Guide for Supervising Drivers, found in the Learner Kit.

As part of Victoria's Graduated Licensing System, learners must obtain 120 hours of on-road driving experience. Ensuring they get this valuable experience in a variety of conditions takes time and patience, so making sure parents feel supported in this role is essential.

"Ensuring learner drivers develop safe driving habits is vital in driving down the road toll," Mr Mulder said.

"In 2011, 26 per cent of drivers killed on Victorian roads were aged between 18 and 25 years, despite this age group representing around only 12 per cent of Victorian licence holders.

"Research shows newly licensed drivers that have 120 hours of supervised on-road learner experience have a 30 per cent lower risk of crashing compared to those with only 50 hours of practice, so it is essential that we use these 120 hours to our best advantage."

Mr Mulder said Lessons from the Road complements the continuing roll out of Keys Please information sessions held in more than 400 high schools across the state every year.

"Keys Please information sessions held in schools provide essential road safety information to more than 20,000 learners or around 31 per cent of the Year 10 population in Victoria annually," Mr Mulder said.

Lessons from the Road is available at: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/supervisors

Personal Vehicles Could Have a Black Box Soon

http://www.tmcnet.com/topics/articles/2012/04/03/283586-personal-vehicles-could-have-black-box-soon.htm

A black box, something usually related to aircraft or boat safety, is well on its way towards cars and other personal vehicles, according to a recent study by Quote Me Today, and online site that offers lower insurance rates. These black boxes record everything a driver does, including where and when they are on the road, how fast they are going, and a myriad of other details.
Traditionally, they've been used to investigate potential accidents, but can also be used to collect data on how the trip has been, and the performance of whoever is at the commands. Now, it seems insurance companies are interested in using these to find out real world data on what your own performance can be behind the wheel.
Traditionally, insurance premiums are determined through a long series of risk analysis and historical data, since there's no direct way to see how dangerous a particular driver is, other than profiling him or her. But now, with the help of such a black box, these companies can get real data directly from the car of the insured person.
This use of telematics is fairly use is fairly new but may be the future of what drivers will have to deal with when looking for insurance coverage. Quote Me Today's survey shows that over 50 percent of their motor trader clients are thinking of moving to telematics insurance over the next 5 years. This is a very different way to deal with insurance premiums where your real world performance would be directly linked with the type of contract and payment plan you have.
These black boxes are already being made for today's cars, and can be attached to any model, gathering data and sending them off to the insurance company. It's still a fairly new model, but something that's sure to grow in popularity, with insurance premiums going up sharply over the last decade.
According to a Quote Me Today spokesman, "Telematics insurance could be an interesting lead for motorists in the future and for motor traders to factor in. Because it puts the responsibility back in the driver's hands, enabling policy holders to feel they have more control over costs. However, there are a few things to look out for to make sure that this is the right option for you first."
Quote Me Today is a Kent based broker of insurance companies, with years of experience offering competitive rates thanks to their relationships with many companies in the industry. In a field where competitive rates, risk knowledge and customer confidence are essential, the company offers these through a panel of insurers with a wealth of industry experience.

Car insurance: satellite boxes 'make young drivers safer'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/apr/05/car-insurance-premiums-telematics-satellite-box?newsfeed=true

Telematics or 'blackbox' insurance involves in-car tracking equipment to monitor driving behaviour. Photograph: Chris Rout /Alamy
Car insurance based on satellite technology has led to a 20% fall in crashes involving young drivers, according to one of the UK's biggest general insurers.

Telematics, or "black box" insurance, involves in-car tracking equipment to monitor driving behaviour such as braking and acceleration, cornering, speed and what time of day the car is driven. The data is then used to calculate insurance premiums: the better the driving, the lower the premium.

Co-operative Insurance has analysed the driving habits of 10,000 telematics insurance customers aged 17 to 25 across the UK, finding that they were 20% less likely to have a crash than those with standard insurance. Telematics customers have less serious accidents, with a typical claim 30% less than ordinary customers.

Young drivers have faced swingeing increases in insurance costs in the past two years. Premiums for men aged 40 to 49 have gone up by 6% since April 2010, but for those aged 17 to 22 they have increased by 40%, according to the AA. Those aged 23 to 29 have seen increases of 35%.

"It's predominantly because of the size of claims, as opposed to frequency," says Ian Crowder, AA spokesman. "Accidents involving younger drivers, particularly men, are more likely to result in death or serious injury."

Last year the AA incurred two claims in excess of £5m: both involved young male drivers aged 18. One rolled his car; his girlfriend, a passenger, will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. The other crashed head-on into another car while overtaking. The 18-year-old driver and two passengers in the back were injured. The front seat passenger and driver of the other car were killed.

The AA launched its own telematics insurance two months ago and says it is too soon to see any benefits. Crowder admits that those opting for such a scheme are likely to be safer drivers, but the AA hopes that other drivers will see the cost benefits.

Thomas Mason from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, started driving his father's Peugeot 106 last year after his 17th birthday. The Co-op charged £2,100 for a policy including Thomas as a named driver. This included a £236 discount for telematics technology and was the cheapest policy they could find at the time. But Thomas (and his father) have driven so carefully in the past 12 months that the Co-op has cut the cost of renewing the policy to £847. Mason said: "You can't see the technology - it's installed under the dashboard, but you can check how you are doing by logging onto the website at home. You are given a score for your driving each day between 0 and 5, with 5 being the best. If you do things like driving fast round corners, or driving after 11pm and before 6am, your score drops."It does change the way you drive - it makes you more careful and aware of other drivers."

Telematics were introduced to 5,000 cars in the UK by Aviva in 2006 in a pilot scheme. The "pay as you drive" insurance was based on a mileage basis as well as the driver's performance, meaning that older drivers who tend do driver shorter distances, could also benefit from the scheme. But the technology was new and expensive. Customers paid £50 towards installation and some drivers were concernedthat technology which tracked their every movecould impinge on their civil liberties, and worse, reveal to their spouses where they had been. Take-up was low and the product was withdrawn after two years.

But telematics products now on the market offer the technology forfree, and a look at the online "dashboard" of the AA's Ian Crowder gives no indication at all of which roads he has taken. While it says he is good at anticipating traffic and the road ahead, reasonable at avoiding driving at night, and below average at keeping at reasonable speeds, there is no mention of where he has been. He gets an an overall score of 59 out of 100 – "not good enough to cut my premiums," he said mournfully.

Only Crowder and his insurer can access this information unless he gives his login details to others. The police can obtain data with a court order, but only if he is believed to have broken the law in some way or endangered the lives of others through his driving.

The AA believes that drivers are more ready to accept surveillance of their driving now than when Aviva first piloted the scheme. "The equipment is more sophisticated and cheaper now, and it is more socially acceptable to have gadgets in your car that monitor your every move," Crowder said. " "We're all used to CCTV, clocking in and out of work with pass cards, and the fact that we can be located by the pin pointing of our mobiles. All of these things work for our security, just as the telematics insurance does."

The technology has helped the police recover several stolen cars: one was tracked down within 20 minutes and the thief arrested. Drivers can also use the information gathered to prove that they are not at fault for accidents by speeding or jumping traffic lights. But insurers believe telematics will come into its own from December, when an EU directive will force them to stop using gender to determine risk. Until now, claims data has pointed to young men and older women being the most likely to claim on their policies, and insurers have hiked their premiums in line with the increased risk.

But as soon as sex becomes a forbidden subject for underwriters, insurers could find the prospect of gender neutral telematics much more attractive.

Crowder said: "This type of insurance accounts for less than 10% of the market right now. But I wouldn't mind betting that in 10 years time it will be closer to 50%."

Driver Reviver steers motorists towards safer holidays

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/3576-driver-reviver-steers-motorists-towards-safer-holidays.html

From the Deputy Premier, From the Minister for Police and Emergency Services
A driver reviver rest stop could save your life or reduce the risk of serious injury, Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan said today.

Launching the Driver Reviver campaign at Federation Square, Mr Ryan urged motorists to heed the road safety messages over the Easter long weekend for their own safety and that of others.

"Driver fatigue is not a criminal offence like speeding or drink driving but it can be just as deadly," Mr Ryan said.

"Fatigue is a contributing factor in at least 17 per cent of all fatal car accidents and a major cause of crashes in Victoria, resulting in around 50 deaths and 300 serious injuries each year."

Mr Ryan said 500 VICSES and Lions Club volunteers would be operating about 50 Driver Reviver sites on major roads in Victoria from Thursday 5 April through to Tuesday 10 April.

"Driver Reviver rest stops provide a safe place for motorists to rest, have a drink, change drivers or have a power nap away from passing traffic," Mr Ryan said.

"Tragically, about 25 per cent of Victorian road fatalities last year occurred during school holidays. A driver who gets behind the wheel after 17 hours without sleep is as impaired as someone who drives with a blood alcohol content of point-05."

Mr Ryan said taking a break on a long haul trip would dramatically reduce the risk of crashing.

"Even nodding off for a few seconds could have dire consequences. If a person driving at 100km/h falls asleep for four seconds, the vehicle will travel 111 metres while completely out of the driver's control," Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan urged motorists planning on taking long journeys to stop and enjoy free refreshments at least every two hours at one of the many driver reviver sites throughout Victoria.

"Each year, volunteers give up their Easter breaks to serve 200,000 cups of tea and coffee to drivers," Mr Ryan said.

Driver Reviver has been operating nationally for more than 20 years. While the Victorian road toll has more than halved since 1989 from 776 to 287 last year, more than 9,000 people have been killed on Victorian roads in that time.

‘Drive Longer, Drive Safely Workshop’ - Helping Seniors Refresh Their Driving Skills

http://www.canterbury.nsw.gov.au/www/html/16-news.asp?n=2043

The Mayor of the City of Canterbury, Cr Brian Robson, is encouraging seniors to freshen up their driving skills and knowledge of road safety at the Drive Longer, Drive Safely Workshop on Thursday 19th April.
"With so many people on the road these days it is important that seniors freshen up their driving skills and knowledge of road safety," Mayor Brian Robson said.
"We want local seniors to stay mobile for as long as possible and the easiest way for them to do so is to stay safe on the roads.
"By 2021 more than a quarter of our residents will be over the age of 55, and while age is not the sole indicator of driving ability, there is evidence that the skills needed for safe driving begin to deteriorate as we get older.
"There is also a risk that if an older driver is involved in a crash their injuries can be more severe due to their age.
"This Drive Longer, Drive Safely Workshop is designed to inform older drivers of the latest changes to the road rules, and improve their thinking, driving skills and knowledge of road and pedestrian safety.
"Older drivers' safety can be increased by adjusting the way they drive, and where and when they choose to drive.
"We also want older drivers to gain a better understanding of their future mobility needs because, once driving is no longer an option, we don't anyone feeling like they are stuck at home with no alternatives.
"These workshops are an important initiative in building and maintaining safety awareness among our older road users and help ensure they remain active and independent for as long as possible," the Mayor said.
The Drive Longer, Drive Safely Workshop is provided with the support of NRMA Insurance.
The Drive Longer, Drive Safely Workshop will be held Thursday 19th April at The Carrington Centre, 2 Carrington Square, Campsie. English presentation with Chinese translation will be from10 am - 12.30pm. English presentation with Arabic translation will be from1pm - 3.30pm. Places are strictly limited and bookings are essential. For more information or to book, contact Council's Road Safety Officer on 9789 9571.

Easter holidays bring renewed call for road safety as Ipswich police praise our Protect Our Children campaign

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/ipswich/easter-holidays-bring-renewed-call-for-road-safety-as-ipswich-police-praise-our-protect-our-children-campaign/story-fn8m0yo2-1226313329163?from=public_rss

Campaigning for road safety needs continued support to keep children safe.

The Ipswich News Protect Our Children series has promoted the cause throughout the school year, and while it will wrap up as families go on the Easter break, the messages are just as important all year round.

Paying the price: See below what penalties apply if you break the road rules

Ipswich Traffic Branch officer in charge Senior Sergeant Troy Hamilton said at critical periods it was great to increase awareness.

``Certainly promoting awareness through media has big benefits and people need to take heed of the suggestions,'' he said.

Campaign highlights:

Put 40km/h zones for kindies on the political agenda

Informed community about new standardised school zone times

Encouraged feedback and discussion online

Covered a variety of perspectives, including schools, police, doctors, parents and children

Revealed more than 1500 motorists caught speeding in 12 months

Spoke to the parents of Matthew Prior, killed in a crash, about the pain road trauma brings

Police have continued to enforce school zone safety following the Back to School campaign in the first week back which saw 161 traffic infringements, including 90 speeding tickets, issued across the Ipswich police district.

Snr Sgt Hamilton said drivers had been more compliant with road rules in school zones where police resources had been deployed.

``But we'll only be satisfied when there is 100per cent compliance and that is only for the sake of the kiddies,'' he said.

The road safety campaign is now focused on Easter, which Snr Sgt Hamilton said is traditionally one of the busier times.

``We ask that, number one, people make sure their vehicles are roadworthy. That they plan their trip and drive to the conditions. They should not cross flooded roads. And if they're going off the beaten track they should do so safely,'' he said.

BREAKING THE LAW:

If you break the road rules, here's what you can expect (Transport Operations Regulation 2009):

Speeding Less than 13km/h over limit: $133 and 1 point.

At least 13km/h but no more than 20km/h: $200 and 3 points.

More than 20km/h but no more than 30km/h: $333 and 4 points.

At least 30km/h but not more than 40km/h: $466 and 6 points.

More than 40km/h: $933 and 8 points.

Fail to stop at a children's crossing when stop sign is displayed: $300 and 3 points for motorist, $100 for cyclist.

Failure to stop at crossing while pedestrian is on or entering crossing: $300 and 3 points for motorist. $100 for cyclist.

Stop contrary to no stopping or no parking zone: $40.

Pedestrian disobey red pedestrian light or cross at other than shortest route: $40.

Pedestrian cross road within 20 metres of crossing, other than as permitted: $40.

Bicycle rider passenger not wearing helmet: $100.

Bicycle rider failing to wear helmet: $100.

Pedestrian in path of driver, obstruct driver or other pedestrian: $40.

Bicycle failure to stop at red crossing light: $100.

Bicycle rider hold on to moving vehicle: $40.

Motorbike rider failure to wear helmet: $300 and 3 points.

Driver failure to wear seatbelt: $300 and 3 points.

Passenger failure to wear seatbelt: $300 and 3 points.

Drive using hand-held mobile phone: $300 and 3 points for motorists, $300 for cyclists.

Revealed: Nation's most deadly intersections on new federal black spot list

Revealed: Nation's most deadly intersections on new federal black spot list

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/the-20m-to-stop-the-sydney-carnage/story-e6frfkvr-1226315600173#ixzz1qkJlpSif

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No more speeding tickets -SpeedAlert-Live the free app that protects your driving license from the risks of unintentional speeding.  www.speedalertlive.com

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Queensland police out in force for Easter road blitz

Queensland police out in force for Easter road blitz
http://www.news.com.au/queensland-police-out-in-force-for-easter-road-blitz/story-e6freoof-1226314862846

THE biggest Easter road safety blitz in Queensland starts today.
Covert and marked speed cameras, random breath test patrols and thousands of police officers will sweep the state's roads.

But the police will also turn the heat up on drivers with their automatic number plate recognition system boasting updated and improved software.

The camera system snaps a passing vehicle's number plate and compares it to plates listed in the police database as unregistered, stolen or belonging to an unlicensed driver.

In a matter of seconds, a nearby secondary patrol car can then be notified to intercept vehicles of interest.

Police said improved technology provided clearer pictures and a greater number of images to be processed. This Easter, more than 3000 cars an hour will be scanned, with police targeting unregistered and disqualified drivers.

State Traffic Chief Superintendent Bob Gee said unregistered vehicles and disqualified drivers were over-represented in serious traffic crashes. In the past five years, 10 per cent of all fatal crashes involved unlicensed driver.

With the early start to school holidays, police have accelerated the road safety campaign ahead of the official national Easter period, which starts Thursday.

"Motorists are eager at this time of year to get to their destinations and enjoy the break," Chief Supt Gee said.

"We'd ask that they consider the impact of poor driving decisions, not only on themselves but on their families and other motorists."

So far 56 lives have been lost on Queensland roads in 2012 - two ahead of the same time last year.

"That is 56 lives too many," Chief Supt Gee said.

"Be patient, concentrate and focus on the task of driving safely. With people travelling to holiday destinations within Queensland and interstate, it is important motorists take care, obey road rules and be aware of driver fatigue."

A Queensland Police drug patrol unit will also conduct random roadside drug tests throughout the campaign.