The Tasmanian Greens and the Pedestrian Council have both proposed variations on the introduction of the measure to reduce the risk of crashes around school zones, for example.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/04/18/319711_tasmania-news.html

Do you think they are fair – or not so fair? For example: in the case of a low-level speeding offence – say 56 in a 50 zone – the two point demerit points would jump to four which, in some Members’ views is unreasonable.

Would you support double demerit points being used here in Tasmania over holiday periods for example, as is the case in Western Australia? (where evaulations have shown some types of crashes have reduced in number during double demerit points periods)

The Western Australian double demerit points experience: 

http://www.ors.wa.gov.au/Demographic-Pages/I-Am-A-Driver/Road-Rules-And-Penalties.aspx

 See also an excerpt from the RACT’s public policy on Enforcement, where we argue that more high-visibility police vehicles and operations – rather than demerit points – will actually change driver behaviour (if they think they will get caught) and in this way, reduce risk.

• be research-based;
• be cost effective and transparent; and
• endeavour to educate motorists, where appropriate.

The RACT’s Darren Moody writes:

The number one issue surrounding electric vehicles (EVs) for consumers is range anxiety. Well GM thinks they might have an answer for that but it involves an internal combustion petrol engine, but it isn’t a Hybrid. Intrigued? Read on.

Volt uses two electric motors for propulsion and is termed an “Extended Range EV”. Firstly a low speed (up to approx. 80km/h) electric “traction motor” provides the majority of propulsion via a planetary gear set to the front wheels. The secondary electric motor remains dormant unless speed exceeds 80km/h. Above 80km/h there is a secondary lockup of the planetary gear-set allowing highway speeds to a limited maximum of 160km/h.

So where does the petrol engine come in? When the battery cell is almost depleted the petrol engine fires up and spins the high-speed electric motor. The high-speed electric motor becomes a generator providing charge for the battery. The 1.4 litre engine from the Cruise (without the turbo) is tuned to perform as a generator motor rather than a normal engine so it has a much lower kW output and lower maximum RPM which provides increased efficiency.

Range on the battery alone is around 80km so that would be more than enough for the average commute. The Volt can be plugged into a standard power point and be charged overnight for around the cost of a cup of coffee. If this is your predominant driving pattern then the petrol engine won’t run apart from a periodic cycle to run some fuel through the system. If you do want to head into the hills then no need to worry, when your battery charge is exhausted the generator will continue to charge the battery keeping the electric motors running.

The battery pack is in a “T” shape and runs up the centre tunnel and under the back seats. It has its own thermal management system to keep the battery within its optimal operating range which increases battery performance. Despite some issues with the battery pack in US crash testing, GM has come up with an upgraded unit that better protects and isolates the coolant in the thermal management system from the battery cells.

A handful of the US versions in Australia are undergoing field trials and a localisation program. A team of Holden engineers spent time in the US learning all there is to know about the Volt and they will put that knowledge to good use making any appropriate changes for Australian conditions. I was lucky enough to have a short drive inside a revamped locomotive shed at the Sydney Technology Park, and despite the space age interior, basic driving characteristics of the Volt were very normal with the exception of the electric engine torque from a standstill. Australian release is set for the last quarter in 2012 and no pricing was available at the official launch.

Subaru has added the latest in driver assist technology to Liberty and Outback Premium models to further enhance their solid reputation for producing safe cars.The new system, which is called  EyeSight, uses two stereo cameras to detect objects and create a 3D image. This image is then analysed by object recognition software. The cameras can detect objects up to 80 metres in the distance and has a forward vision angle of 25 degrees. There are some limitations to the operation of the system and these include the density of the object in front, the height of the object, less than one metre is an issue, driving into low sun or when general visibility is poor. The software also takes a few seconds in some  to recognise objects which you may be approaching at speed.

EyeSight doesn’t rely on combinations of additional complex technologies, such as microwave and radar – it’s a relatively simple stereo camera system which was extensively tested in Australian conditions. Subaru Australia Managing Director Nick Senior says “We have plans to roll it out on other models over the next couple of years and before the end of the decade it is likely to be standard across the range.”

EyeSight assists in these seven key areas of vehicle safety: 

• Pre-Collision Throttle Management – helps avoid/reduce impact in car park accidents. It is also useful for those times when you are at an intersection waiting to turn onto another road, looking for a break in traffic, you assume the car in front of you has taken off, but forget to double check. The car in front of you hasn’t moved but you take off. The system limits throttle inputs to the engine so the vehicle won’t move off as fast or in some instances at all.

• Adaptive Cruise Control –This feature for me was most used. It allows you to set a cruise control speed, set a comfortable following distance to the car in front of you. You maximum set speed won’t be exceeded even going down hills, but if the car in front of you slows you will slow to maintain your set distance (which is measured in time i.e. 2 seconds). When the car speeds up again your car will increase speed up to the set speed. It even has the ability to bring the Subaru to a complete standstill and then resume moving when the “lead vehicle” moves off.

• Pre-Collision Braking – recognises a potential frontal impact and applies the brakes when the driver has failed to apply the brakes. It applies in two stages and also provides an audible and visual warning to the driver. Subaru says collisions can generally be avoided when the speed difference is less than 30km/h and for speeds above 30km/h the severity of the collision can be significantly reduced.

• Pre-Collision Brake Assist –system works similarly to Pre-Collision Braking with the audible warnings and early brake application if the system determines that a collision is highly likely. In this case the driver does react and apply the brakes, but often in these situations the driver doesn’t apply maximum brake pressure so this the system will apply full braking pressure to help reduce impact or damage.

• Lane Departure Warning – alerts the driver if the system determines that the car is drifting across marked lanes. The system detects lane markings on the road ahead and provides a visual and audible warning that you have or are about to cross one of these lines.

• Vehicle Sway Warning – Similar to Lane departure, EyeSight alerts the driver if the car starts to sway from one side of the road to another, which is often a sign of fatigue. The alert is visual and audible. There is no intervention to steering or braking in either Lane Departure or Lane Sway systems.

• Lead Vehicle Start Alert - when the EyeSight-equipped vehicle is stopped and the vehicle in front starts to move, the driver receives an audible reminder and information display indicator notifying them that the vehicle in front has moved.

It should be remembered however that all this technology is Driver Assistance and it is the driver who still has to take the ultimate responsibility for controlling all aspects of driving.

Higher-quality, well-maintained roads will reduce serious casualty crashes on Tasmanian roads

If you observe a section of road you think is unsafe, let us know!
Tasmania faces a multimillion dollar deficit in road maintenance across our State. We are lobbying the Tasmanian Government to add at least one million dollars extra to funds for strengthening and widening our roads, resurfacing and repairing dangerous stretches and adding clearer linemarkings to reduce risk.
YOUR support is crucial to highlight what needs to be done to our roads, and where.

It’s not about building new super-highways in Tasmania – just practical, common-sense maintenance work that makes our existing road system safer.

You can also make comments and post photos on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/RACTOfficial or on Twitter at @RACTOfficial

Have your say!

The original ‘57 FJ Holden Road Service vehicle was a big hit!

RACT is pleased to offer members our new and updated Show Your Card & Save app for iPhone and Android.

Download it free from the iTunes app store or the Android Market – just search for ‘RACT’.

This app allows you to discover the hundreds of discounts available to RACT members across Tasmania.

Features include:

• Search by category and retailer

• Search by location using iPhone GPS

• Maps for nearest retailer

• Hot offers and promotions updated regularly

Your RACT membership card is your key to opening a whole world of fantastic discounts and benefits. The Show Your Card & Save symbol featured on your card automatically entitles RACT members to immediate savings at thousands of partner locations. This new app makes it easier for you to find those savings, especially when you’re out shopping! Discover more information about Show Your Card & Save discounts and benefits at www.ract.com.au. We hope you enjoy the app – and the savings!

Just a couple of kilometres can be the difference can mean a saving of over ten cents a litre.

See the pictures attached – two service stations within one kilometre of each other in Hobart’s Northern suburbs - ELEVEN cents a litre difference!

TT RS

 The growling engine note of the 5-cylinder turbo TT RS propels this nimble Audi at tremendous pace. The 250kW engine just keeps giving up the rev range slotting the next gear with the customary exhaust blurp. The TT always feels light on its toes and points in at corners with absolute precision, but will provide some understeer if the limits are pushed.  Despite slippery surfaces the amount of grip was astounding. Audi have made 45 of these models available to Australia. On top of the sensational 5-cylinder turbo Quattro TTRS, the LE spec gives you a 7-speed S-Tronic transmission, 19” titanium look alloy wheels, sports exhaust, Bose audio, adaptive headlights, black exterior package, extended leather package, three LE colours. Priced at $139,900 (plus on roads), which includes $8,460 additional value.

RS5

The RS5 LE has Audi’s hi-tech 4.2 litre direct injection V8, which creates a fantastic sound track as it heads towards its 8,500rpm redline. The ability to drive this vehicle at speed with ease is amazing – the sports centre diff allows as much as 80% of drive to the rear wheels, or alternatively if conditions dictate 70% of drive can come to the front wheels. While amazingly quick the RS5 would make a great grand tourer eating up the miles, and providing plenty of smiles when the road gets twisty.

Only 25 RS5 LEs are available. The Limited Edition package nets you 20” titanium- look alloys, sports exhaust, Bang & Olufsen surround audio, panoramic glass roof, black exterior package, driver’s seat memory function and exclusive LE colours. Add all this to the awesome sound track of the 331kW 4.2L Audi V8 and Quattro drive system and you have one hell of a drive. $175,300 (plus on roads) will get you into one with $13,600 worth of extras thrown in.

RACT CEO Harvey Lennon says that many of the dangerous situations that occur on our roads involve a small number of people who are repeat offenders, disqualified drivers, or drivers of unregistered vehicles.

“Law abiding and responsible motorists feel aggrieved when they are targeted by a generic approach to road safety, such as last year’s proposal by the Government to introduce a blanket speed reduction on rural roads,” Mr Lennon says. “They are paying the penalty of the reckless behaviour of a relatively few road users.”

The RACT says the Government should convene a multi-disciplined task force with medical, behavioural, enforcement, and legislative input to consider the issue of recidivist behaviour on the roads. It should also undertake research into the solutions adopted in other national and international jurisdictions. 

What do you think? Have your say here.

The RACT acknowledges the budgetary constraints the Tasmanian Government is facing. However, in the shorter term, the RACT believes that in the interests of safety and the state’s economic advancement, these constraints do not preclude some relatively low-cost measures aimed at maintaining safety and mobility on Tasmanian roads.

In addition, as per the Terms of Reference for this year’s Submission, RACT has also:

• made recommendations regarding possible future revenue collections
• highlighted previous Budget commitments that must be quarantined from any expenditure cuts or funding delivery timing changes; and
• expressed our serious and ongoing concerns about funding cuts to Tasmania Police.

RACT released A Roadmap for the Next Tasmanian Government in February 2010, in the lead-up to the State election. Its fifty recommendations addressed Tasmanian road safety and infrastructure issues. This year’s Tasmanian Budget Submission continues to build on a number of the recommendations put forward in the Roadmap.

Download the RACT Budget Submission here. Tasmanian Budget submission RACT 2 2012-13