Darwin e-scooter users in line for prizes as part of national safety blitz
Darwin e-scooter riders could be riding away with thousands of dollars in free rides as part of an e-scooter safety blitz.
The competition, launched by e-scooter operator Beam Mobility, is part of Beam's national 'Safety in Motion' initiative, running in conjunction with National Road Safety Week.
As part of the competition, a team serving as 'Beam Safe Ambassadors' will hit the streets of Darwin to reward riders who demonstrate safe practices including wearing a helmet, not using a phone while riding, and never riding under the influence.
'While we will continue to enforce safe riding behaviour, including through our three strike policy, we want to use perks not penalties this week and reward those doing the right thing,' a Beam spokesperson said.
'At Beam we believe road safety should go beyond the road, and include parking behaviour, helmet use and more.
'So, this is our way to say thanks and put the attention back on the majority of riders who travel safely, instead of focusing on a few bad apples.'
Darwin riders spotted by the Beam ambassadors demonstrating these safe behaviours will receive $500 credits.
Territorians will also be able to enter an online competition running until May 18, completing the Beam Safety Quiz for a chance to win a 'Safe Beamer pass' valued at $1000.
The pass also includes 60 free riding minutes a week for six months.
Beam said since launching in Darwin, its scooters had made nearly 600,000 trips.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Oscar Piastri lauded as former F1 driver declared the ‘floodgates have opened' on his title charge
An 'insanely calm' Oscar Piastri has been hailed as having one of the coolest heads Formula 1 ever seen as one former driver declared the 'floodgates have opened' for the Australian star in his title quest. After taking his fifth grand prix win from the opening nine rounds this season in the Spanish Grand Prix to extend his lead in the world championship, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer said he could not have predicted the 'step up' the McLaren star would make to become the championship favourite. Palmer said Piastri had turned his on-track weaknesses into his strengths this year, which had been headlined by his 'standout improvement' in qualifying. The former Renault driver-turned-commentator said no other driver had made a bigger step over one lap this year and Piastri's maiden pole position in China had opened the 'floodgates' after a qualifying 'whitewash' from his teammate Lando Norris last season. 'Last year, Oscar's racecraft set him out from his rivals and gave him wins that he had to work for,' Palmer wrote in his column on 'After all, he only scored his first ever pole position in China this year, so he had to come from behind to seal his wins last season. 'There was no doubting Oscar's racecraft, but to mount a title challenge he'd need to improve his fundamental pace in both qualifying and the race. 'Qualifying pace has been the biggest standout improvement from him this year. In fact if you look at the whole field, no driver has made a bigger step over one lap. 'He's gone from ending last season 20-4 down to teammate Lando in a relative qualifying whitewash last year, to leading the duo's head-to-head form this campaign, having taken his fourth pole in Barcelona on Saturday, compared to Norris' two. 'It's fair to say the floodgates have opened after his China success.' Piastri's victory in Barcelona extended his lead in the championship to 10 points over Norris and also equalled the record for the most wins by an Australian driver in a single F1 season The Melbourne-born racer's cool demeanour on track continues to earn plaudits as he mounts his championship charge. Palmer said Piastri rarely made 'pressure mistakes' and described him as possibly the calmest head he had ever seen in F1. 'Oscar also seems to have the calmest head, certainly that I can remember, in Formula 1,' Palmer wrote. 'It's still early stages in his career and we haven't yet seen him under title-deciding pressures – that'll come later this year – but the man is insanely calm with whatever is going on around him. 'Kimi Raikkonen was known as the Iceman in Formula 1, but I've even seen him more animated than Oscar. 'This can only be strength to be able to stay so composed – I've yet to see him make pressure mistakes and you can't imagine him squandering points due to red mist, as Max Verstappen did on Sunday.' While there are still 15 rounds remaining in the F1 season, Palmer had no doubt Piastri had the 'makeup of a champion'. 'He's not been perfect this season. In Melbourne he was unlucky to lose a heap of points going off in the rain, but he was napping for the Imola start when he got passed by Verstappen, and was a bit scrappy in Monaco too,' Palmer wrote. 'There have been enough chances for Lando to stay in the hunt, and the title battle remains close, with Oscar just 10 points to the good. 'But from what I've seen so far, Oscar absolutely has the makeup of a champion, in a season where he's turned his weaknesses into strengths.'
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- News.com.au
Little-known road rule landing Aussies $2k fines
Aussie motorists have been warned of one seemingly minor driving habit that could cost them thousands of dollars in fines. Significant penalties apply to those who flout the lesser-known road rule of leaving your car unlocked or your windows down after parking. However, there is one group of motorists exempt from the rules concerning unlocked doors and window security. In most states, there's a '3-metre rule' that dictates how far you can stray from your parked car without locking it. Essentially, if you move more than 3m away, you must lock your vehicle and secure the windows. Failure to do so could result in a fine. And let's be honest; almost everyone's been guilty of leaving their car unsecured while going for that quick coffee run or dash into a shop, often without a second thought. While leaving your car unlocked may seem a harmless oversight, there's a very good reason for the 3m rule. Improving vehicle security helps prevent car theft and dishonest insurance claims, such as when a vehicle is left unlocked intentionally and a claim is made for an alleged theft. Astor Legal's principal lawyer Avinash Singh explains: 'The reasoning behind the law is to prevent cars from being stolen and then used in more serious crimes,' he said. 'The use of allegedly stolen vehicles making it difficult for police to track down the offenders.' Here is everything you need to know about this often-overlooked rule. New South Wales In NSW, it is illegal to leave a running car unlocked or with a minor inside while unattended. Additionally, drivers must not leave their vehicle unattended with the windows down unless the gap is two centimetres or less. The fine is $114, but if the case goes to court, penalties can reach up to $2200. Queensland In QLD, it's illegal to leave your car unlocked when unattended. Similarly to NSW, you can't leave your vehicle unattended with the windows down unless there is a gap of five centimetres or less. The maximum penalty is $3096, with a fine of $2669 if the car is unlocked with the keys inside. Victoria In Victoria, it is an offence to leave your vehicle unattended without properly securing it, which includes ensuring all windows are fully closed and the car is locked. The on-the-spot fine is $117, with court penalties approaching $600. Western Australia WA follows similar rules to other states regarding vehicle security: you must ensure the doors and windows are secured when leaving your car unattended. The fine for failing to do so is $50. However, there's a stipulation that if you're going to pay for parking, you don't need to lock the car and put the windows up. Tasmania In Tasmania, it's the law to switch off the car, remove the key from the ignition, and ensure that no minors (under 16) are left in the vehicle when unattended. The rules also specify that the doors must be locked and the windows secured (defined as closed or open by up to 2 centimetres). The maximum penalty for leaving your car unlocked is just under $200. Australian Capital Territory In the ACT, you must secure your car when leaving it unattended, ensuring the windows are closed and the doors are locked. Failure to comply can result in a significant fine: 20 penalty units or $3200. Where is South Australia? South Australia is the only state that does not have this law. Regulation 23 of the Road Traffic (Road Rules — Ancillary and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2014 explicitly exempts drivers in South Australia from needing to lock their doors if away from their vehicle.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Passenger dies in crash with parked truck in Melbourne
A car has been torn into pieces and its passenger has died after an orange Ford Mustang GT crashed into a parked truck in Melbourne's western suburbs overnight. Two people were in the car when it crashed on Dunmore Drive in Truganina about 1am on Wednesday. The passenger died at the scene, while the driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Shocking images from the crash site show large chunks of the car scattered dozens of metres from where the bulk of the car came to rest, with the truck appearing largely unscathed. Parts of the car had clear crumple marks, while a chunk of the front clip was seen a fair distance away, cleanly separated from the rest of the vehicle. Later on Wednesday morning, firefighters could be seen inspecting the car's engine. The car, a V8-powered Ford Mustang GT, is one of Australia's most popular sports cars, and retails for about $80,000. The parked truck fared much better, with only a small amount of damage to the corner of one of its back doors visible. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, with officers dissecting the crash site on Wednesday. Any witnesses or people with dashcam footage have been urged to come forward. So far this year, 134 people have died on Victoria's roads, compared to 119 this time last year. More to come.
