Latest news with #BureauofInfrastructureandTransportResearchEconomics
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Millions warned as new cameras with $3,300 fines and six demerit points target drivers from today
Speed cameras will begin targeting new drivers along two major Aussie highways from today, with Aussies being warned they could still cop a fine during the trial period. Drivers in New South Wales are urged to keep an eye on their speed as average speed cameras — which previously only targeted heavy vehicles — will be turned on for all vehicles along the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes on the Mid North Coast, and the Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai in the state's south. These average speed cameras, also known as point-to-point cameras, were installed in these locations due to the high volume of crashes and statewide speeding offences already apply for drivers of heavy vehicles. From today until June 30, drivers of light vehicles who are caught exceeding the speed limit by 30 km/h or less will receive a warning letter. However, if drivers exceed the speed limit by more than 30 km/h, they will be fined and penalties will apply. If the speed exceeds 30 km/h over the signposted limit but not more than 45 km/h, drivers will cop a maximum fine of $2,200 and five demerit points, along with a minimum licence suspension of three months. For speeds exceeding more than 45 km/h, a maximum fine of $3,300 will apply, with six demerit points taken and a minimum licence suspension of six months. From July 1, all penalties will apply along the two highways. "Motorists are reminded that from today the cameras will begin capturing light vehicle speeding offences. Warning letters will be issued to those caught for the first two months before penalties will begin on 1 July," Duncan Lucas, Executive Director of Road Safety Regulation at Transport for NSW, said. ☀️ Young driver cops warning over little-known road rule with $323 fine 👀 Drivers 'completely unaware' of road rule attracting $6,000 fines 😲 More expensive road fines coming for millions of Aussie drivers Average speed cameras use several cameras to measure the time it takes for a vehicle to travel between points on the road and subsequently calculate the average speed. Compared to fixed speed cameras that only indicate the driver's speed in one moment, average speed cameras provide a more comprehensive view of speeding behaviour. Authorities continue to increase road surveillance across the country as many states grapple with rising road fatalities. Research conducted by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics revealed that 1,300 people died on Australian roads last year — up from 1,258 in 2023 — and speeding contributes to 41 per cent of road deaths. "Speeding is the biggest cause of death and serious injury on NSW roads and it's imperative that everyone obeys the speed limit, not only when passing enforcement sites but everywhere on our roads," Lucas said. However, not everyone agrees with the move. Prominent road lawyer Hayder Shkara previously told Yahoo News the move will target the "everyday driver" who drifts between five and 10km/h while "overtaking or distracted" and not the hoon putting lives at risk. "Average speed enforcement doesn't target the hoon doing 130 in a 60 zone who brakes when they see a cop," he said. "This can penalise minor, unintentional lapses, especially when driving for long distances," he told Yahoo News. "The blanket approach lacks nuance—something you'd expect more of if the goal is truly road safety rather than punishing drivers." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Travel trick to avoiding 'airport purgatory' as Aussies stranded by delayed flights
Airport purgatory. Most of us have been there – wandering around bored and forced to buy expensive snacks while waiting for a flight that's delayed again and again. About one in four of domestic flights were delayed during October 2024. That's according to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics. Hamilton Island-Sydney was the least punctual domestic route, with the lowest percentage of on-time arrivals and the most delayed departures (46.2 per cent and 51.3 per cent, respectively). RELATED Decaying Aussie dollar decimates travel savings ahead of Euro summer: 'Pay now' ATO warning for every Aussie who plays lottery after $70 million Oz Lotto jackpot Pay rise coming for half a million Aussies after 'landmark' ruling: 'Up to 35 per cent' More cancellations occurred on the Port Hedland-Perth route (7.3 per cent) followed by Townsville-Cairns (5.6 per cent) and Coffs Harbour-Sydney route (5.3 per cent). But the experts at Compare the Market reckon there may finally be a solution, if you're savvy enough to compare travel insurance policies. Travellers stranded by delayed flights may be able to access reprieve at the airport lounge thanks to a new travel insurance benefit from Huddle Insurance. The new Smart Flight Delay feature monitors departures in real-time, so customers can receive up to four passes for an airport lounge when a flight is delayed for an hour or more. The perk provides access to over 1,400 airport lounges around the world. I recently caught up with Huddle's co-CEO, Jonathan Buck, who explained that the feature's live flight tracker meant that lounge access could be accessed without having to lodge a claim. So gone are the days of sitting on the floor of a crammed terminal, getting hungry and stressed. Innovative policies like this one are a great reminder that travel insurance can be beneficial, whether you have an accident or not. I personally reckon travel insurance isn't just a 'nice to have' – it's a must for anyone concerned with unexpected cancellations, illnesses, injury and lost luggage while on vacation. A lot of people take a chance with travel insurance because they don't think anything will go wrong, but the reality is thousands of Australians are impacted by losses when travelling overseas and in Australia every year. But with weather events like the LA fires causing so much disruption, can you really afford such an expensive mistake? Compare the Market observed a notable rise in travel insurance quote searches following the recent volcanic eruption in Bali that put holiday plans in a tailspin. But as soon as something like that happens, it becomes a 'known event', which means many insurers won't cover losses if you don't already have a policy in place. That's why I encourage people to take out travel cover as soon as the flights are booked to ensure you're covered for unexpected events that occur in the lead up to your holiday as well. It pays to be prepared. David Koch is Compare the Market's Economic Director.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Aussie drivers accused of 'selfish' road act amid widespread trend: 'Needs to stop'
Police are urgently warning the public to slow down and drive safely, as road deaths in the country's south soar to dizzying new heights. Across South Australia, so far 17 people have been killed on the state's roads this year already, with "vulnerable" residents, including pedestrians and cyclists, overrepresented in the grim statistics. Police say by this time in 2024, 13 people had died, with the spike prompting officers to renew their plea to motorists — particularly due to the fact dangerous driving and speeding were the two biggest factors contributing to the shocking death tally. It's a trend that appears to be taking place nationwide, with 2024 crowned the deadliest on Australia's roads in over a decade. Governments are facing mounting pressure to take bold action to reduce road fatalities, with data revealing the death toll has been rising in recent years at a pace not seen since 1966. Research conducted by the federal Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) showed that 1,300 people died on Australian roads in 2024 — up from 1,258 in 2023. It's reflective of four years of surging deaths on our roads, which has not occurred since before seatbelts were made mandatory in the '60s. A mind-blowing 359 people died in the three months to the end of December last year. In SA, Acting Superintendent Jaimi Burns said regional roads continue to be where most of the fatal accidents occur in the state. "Serious road trauma often involves one or more of the Fatal Five road behaviours that significantly increase the risk of being involved in a crash," Burns told media. "Tragically, this means almost all lives lost and serious injuries could have been prevented through safer road behaviours. With distraction and speeding playing a major role in so many crashes last year, the critical message to road users across South Australia is clear — these selfish behaviours need to stop." She said police are "pleading" with the public to take notice of the advice, especially among younger drivers. Burns said young drivers aged 16 to 24, along with passengers under 16, were disproportionately affected in fatal and serious injury crashes. To highlight the issue, SAPOL has released images from mobile detection cameras that appear to show drivers distracted behind the wheel. In one image, a driver is seen holding a wrap in one hand and a mobile phone in the other, with neither hand on the wheel. Another photo captures a different driver also with no hands on the wheel, instead holding a can of drink and their phone. Another motorist was photographed with both hands on the wheel, but their smartphone was resting on their bicep. In a fourth image taken by a detection camera, a driver is holding a bottle of drink in one hand, though it is unclear whether their left hand is on the wheel. In 2024, 11 young drivers lost their lives, while 155 sustained serious injuries. Additionally, three passengers under 16 were killed, and 16 suffered serious injuries. "South Australia Police will remain committed to enforcing road safety through education and statewide enforcement to deter and detect unsafe driving behaviours," Burns said. "It is crucial for everyone to recognize that making responsible and safe choices on the road can prevent crashes and save lives." In 2024, 91 lives lost were lost on SA roads and 847 people were left with serious injuries resulting from road crashes, with the majority of incidents occurring on regional roads. Distraction, driving dangerously and speeding were the leading causes of last year's 847 serious injury crashes. Additionally. drug driving was a contributing factor in 70 regional serious injury crashes and 129 motorcycle serious injury crashes. "Speed is the key factor in 99 per cent of crashes," Dr Chris Stokes, road safety researcher at the University of Adelaide previously told Yahoo. "The faster you hit an object, the harder the impact is going to be." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aussie drivers warned over 'unacceptable' act after young woman's horrific injuries
Aussie motorists are being urged to be vigilant and respectful of other road users – even if they're on just two wheels. Close to eighty motorcyclists hit the road on Sunday to protest against aggressive drivers, taking a powerful stand in solidarity with a young woman who suffered traumatic injuries in an alleged road rage incident when a driver targeted her motorbike. Rachel Secker was back on her beloved motorcycle for the 'Ride Against Road Rage' event in Adelaide yesterday. But every time she throws the leg over, she is haunted by the incident that took place two years ago when she was knocked off her bike, completely decimating one of her legs. "Even though I love riding, it's put a bit of a dampener on it for me," the 23-year-old said. "Every time I get on the bike, it's like ... Is this going to be the last ride?" Speaking to 7News, she said she had to have her right leg completely rebuilt by doctors and "stoped counting after 20 surgeries" following the disturbing incident. 🚘 Aussie drivers 'fed up' after little-known act sparks $410 fine warning 😤 Driver rages over $387 fine issued after six-second moment 📸 Fears of 'mistakes' with new cameras targeting Aussie drivers Others who joined the ride said they have all experienced road rage from drivers in cars, with some lamenting that it happens on a "daily basis". "Many of us have experienced road rage to the point of fearing for personal safety. This behaviour needs to be publicly declared unacceptable," event organisers said. Motorcyclist Bronwyn Ridge who organised the ride told Yahoo that aggressive driving "is an ongoing theme within the motorcycle community". "We generally experience poor driving, distracted drivers looking at their phones ... We know what it's like to be tailgated, for cars to change lanes without looking. "There's people who don't understand that lane filtering is legal, and sometimes they will try and block us," she said. Even the event yesterday wasn't without such an incident, despite the group's strength in numbers. "We had a rider yesterday on the ride when a car came through a giveaway sign without stopping, right in front a rider fresh off her Ls," Bronwyn said. It comes as motorcycle deaths hit an alarming new high on the country's roads last year. Motorcyclist fatalities increased from 252 in 2023 to 278 in 2024 – a rise of 10.3 per cent – making last year the deadliest calendar year for motorbike riders since 1989. In total, 1,300 people died on Australian roads in 2024 — up from 1,258 in 2023, according to research conducted by the federal Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE). The motorist responsible for Rachel's injuries has pleaded guilty to running her down and will be sentenced tomorrow. "She'll face him for the first time when she reads her victim impact statement in court," Bronwyn told Yahoo. "He really went out of his way to ram a car into a motorcycle ... We just hope the crime is treated seriously." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
12-YEAR HIGH: Urgent warning over deadly trend on Aussie roads
Governments are facing mounting pressure to take bold action to reduce road fatalities in Australia, as new data reveals the death toll has been rising in recent years at a pace not seen since 1966. Research conducted by the the federal Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) showed that 1,300 people died on Australian roads in 2024 — up from 1,258 in 2023. It's reflective of a four-year period of surging deaths our roads, which has not occurred since before seatbelts were made mandatory in the '60s. A mind-blowing 359 people died in the three months to the end of December last year. This grim statistic made 2024 the deadliest year on Australian roads since 2012, which also recorded 1,300 fatalities. The data further revealed that last year's road toll was 18.5 per cent higher than in 2021, the year a 10-year plan to halve road deaths was launched. Though driver and passenger deaths slightly decreased in 2024 compared with levels in 2023, roads became much more deadly for other users, including pedestrians. Pedestrian deaths rose from 156 in 2023 to 167 in 2024 — a 7.1 per cent increase — while cyclist deaths jumped from 34 in 2023 to 38 in 2024, a significant rise of 11.8 per cent. Motorcyclist deaths increased from 252 in 2023 to 278 in 2024 – an increase of 10.3 per cent – making last year the deadliest calendar year for motorbike deaths since 1989. The landmark 2020 federal strategy to slash deaths by 2030 is "wildly off-track", according to the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). It has now has called on the Albanese government to force states to produce data about the safety scores of individual roads, if they plan on using federal funding to improve it. Queensland's road fatalities rose from 277 in 2023 to 302 in 2024, while Western Australia saw an increase from 158 to 185. The Northern Territory experienced a sharp rise in deaths, climbing from 31 in 2023 to 58 in 2024, and the Australian Capital Territory's toll grew from four to 11 during the same period. Although road fatalities rose nationally, some states and territories saw improvements in 2024 compared to 2023. Victoria's toll fell from 296 to 281, Tasmania's dropped from 35 to 32, and South Australia recorded a decline from 117 to 91. Meanwhile, fatalities in New South Wales remained unchanged at 340. Although seatbelt use became mandatory in front seats in Australia in 1969 and for all seats by 1971, road fatalities have been rising in recent years at a pace not seen since 1966. Major change coming to Aussie road this week after '125 near-misses' Plea for change after 'shocking' road deaths New road rule proposal in Aussie state amid increase in cyclist deaths The trajectory means no state or territory is on track to achieve the objectives of Australia's National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, to halve road deaths, the association's managing director Michael Bradley said. "We must use data and evidence about crashes, the state of our roads and the effectiveness of police traffic enforcement to establish what is going wrong on our roads and create more effective interventions," Bradley said. "Australia's rising road toll underscores the importance of using road condition data to direct road funding, and to prevent the politicisation of scarce public funds.'' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
