Latest news with #HusseinDia
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Urgent call to update laws amid rise of 'silent threat' on Aussie roads: 'We need to catch up'
Smart glasses are emerging as a "silent threat" on Australian roads, with experts warning their use behind the wheel poses serious risks to safety and privacy, all while slipping through existing legal cracks. Often designed to resemble regular eyewear, smart glasses come equipped with discreet cameras, microphones and even display screens built into the lenses. While they're marketed as a blend of fashion and function, their increasing use in Australian society, including behind the wheel, is triggering concern among industry specialists. Monash University research found that 13.5 per cent of Australian smart glasses owners had used the technology while driving or cycling. Even more had recorded others without their consent, often in spaces where filming is restricted. Now, Professor Hussein Dia, an expert in future urban mobility, has joined a growing chorus of voices calling for tighter regulation before smart glasses become a subtle but widespread threat to both road safety and personal privacy. Speaking to Yahoo News, Dia admitted the situation is worse than he'd anticipated. "It is more concerning than I initially thought," Dia said. "These glasses can not only record and store video on the device itself, but when paired with a mobile app, the videos can also be sent to the cloud or even streamed live for everyone to watch." The potential risks, he said, are far-reaching. "So indeed, they are a 'silent threat' to road safety and privacy. Their rising use, including while driving, presents serious risks to road safety and personal privacy, and their use seems to be outpacing current Australian regulations. They can distract drivers, stream video in real time, and record people without them ever knowing. "It's a legal blind spot, and we need to catch up quickly." Unlike dashcams or built-in vehicle cameras, which are fixed in place, clearly visible, and generally accepted as tools for recording evidence, smart glasses are different — they're wearable, can move with the person, and often look just like normal glasses, making them hard to detect. Major brands like Ray-Ban, Meta, Amazon, and Google have all released iterations of the product. "I thought to myself, well, how do they compare to dashcams or built-in cameras that record surroundings in some new vehicles on the market today?" Dia said. "This is where it gets interesting, dashcams [are] used for insurance or enforcement purposes mainly, but smart glasses are mobile and discreet, making them far more intrusive and especially, they could be mistaken for ordinary eyewear. They can store footage, upload it to cloud platforms, or even livestream content without the subject's knowledge, creating significant privacy concerns. "Dashcams seem to have some regulations around them, and they are visible, but smart glasses allow real-time recording of anyone, anywhere, without warning. That's a major red flag for both road use and everyday public settings." Dia explained that while dashcams are accepted because they record the road, smart glasses raise serious privacy concerns because they can go unnoticed in places like shops, schools, and restrooms, capturing personal interactions without consent. He also warned that they act as a visual and cognitive distraction on the roads. Their ability to stream, record, and display content in a driver's line of sight, Dia said, also makes them potentially more dangerous than mobile phones. From a privacy perspective, the law offers little protection. "While it's illegal to touch your phone while driving, there's no clear law banning smart glass use behind the wheel. Likewise, Australian privacy laws do little to restrict individuals recording in public spaces, unless audio is involved, or the act is deemed harassing," he said. "Current privacy laws offer limited protection — in Australia, individuals are generally allowed to record in public spaces, though state-based surveillance laws vary. But most do not adequately address personal use of wearable cameras, particularly where the recording is silent, visual-only, and not clearly signposted." To address the growing risk, he's urging lawmakers to act — not only through clearer legislation but by encouraging manufacturers to build in better safeguards. "With no uniform national rules around personal surveillance in public and limited road safety provisions for wearable tech, I think we need some urgent regulatory updates that could include amendment of Australian road laws to explicitly address wearable visual displays while driving; strengthening privacy laws to account for wearable and mobile surveillance devices; and getting manufacturers involved to introduce clearer recording indicators, and restrict usage in sensitive areas," he said. "Currently, the industry seems largely relying on users to self-regulate, which is not sufficient given the increasing sophistication and miniaturisation of these devices.' "As smart glasses become more common, this won't be just a tech issue, but more so a public safety issue. Without stronger rules, action and more public awareness, we would be heading into risky territory where smart glasses risk becoming a widespread yet largely unregulated form of mobile surveillance with implications not just for road users, but for public life more broadly." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Election expected to drive confidence in electric cars
Electric vehicles are expected to grow in number and fall in price following the federal election as manufacturers and motorists gain confidence that regulations on low-emission transport will not change. Automotive experts issued the predictions on Wednesday following an election campaign in which the coalition announced plans to remove tax breaks for electric cars and repeal penalties for exceeding vehicle pollution limits. While the changes will not go ahead, other motoring groups warned the incoming Labor government would still need to make greater investments in training and infrastructure to support the industry's transition to low-emission transport. The forecasts come after a bruising election campaign for transport, in which the coalition pledged to remove penalties for exceeding emission limits under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard before they came into effect in July. The party also promised to remove fringe benefits tax exemptions for some electric vehicles that had cut their price by thousands of dollars. Changing the regulations would have made it more difficult for motorists to access and afford environmentally friendly cars, Electric Vehicle Council policy head Aman Gaur said, and voters saw through claims to the contrary. "Australians have backed cleaner, more affordable vehicles, rejecting the 'ute tax' scare campaign and plans to remove the electric car discount, which helps make the EV transition more accessible," he said. "The electorate's support for the EV transition gives manufacturers certainty around policy settings and will encourage more supply of cutting-edge low-emission vehicles to Australia." Claims that a fuel-efficiency standard would raise the price of popular utes by thousands of dollars, which have been debunked by AAP FactCheck, were clearly not accepted by the public, Swinburne University future urban mobility professor Hussein Dia said. "The evidence from overseas was that (prices) did not rise and, in cases where there was change, they were very minor changes," he said. "Now, with competition and more imports from China, this will dampen prices further." Automotive groups including the Motor Trades Association of Australia and Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce said the industry welcomed the certainty the election result provided, but they warned the government would need to assist businesses making the transition. Greater investments would be needed in "training, equipment and infrastructure," chamber chief executive Peter Jones said, particularly for independent workshops and regional businesses. "As manufacturers bring more electric and hybrid vehicles to our shores, it is essential that adequate support mechanisms are established for the entire automotive ecosystem," he said. Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, introduced in January, sets emissions limits on vehicle fleets, with a trading scheme and penalties for manufacturers which exceed them.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aussie driver confused by 'sophisticated' road feature at notorious intersection: 'Always idiots'
Confusion has erupted after footage surfaced of a traffic light at a notoriously congested Australian intersection switching from red to green — and back to red — in just a second or two. It's no secret to anyone living in Sydney's metro area that the Rozelle Interchange, in the city's Inner West, is known for its heavy traffic. Despite the spot having recently received a major upgrade, it can still be tricky to navigate, particularly during busy periods. In the video, dashcam footage shows a driver waiting at a set of lights in the right lane, hoping to merge into traffic flowing onto the Anzac Bridge from the western entrance. Just one to two cars make it past the lights as they quickly flicker from red to green, and red again, with the video ending before the motorist is able to get across. Hundreds of people responded to the footage, many sharing their surprise at the speed of the change. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Professor of Urban Mobility at Swinburne University, Hussein Dia, explained the concept is actually one employed in many parts of the country to limit congestion, particularly on motorways known for their bottleneck-like conditions. Referred to as "ramp metering", the system is a "key component of managed motorway operations", Dia said. It uses "coordination principles to reduce congestion and potential for conflicts, as the traffic from the on-ramp joins the main motorway lanes", he explained. "You can see the traffic merges near the horizon in the video." The idea is that heavy traffic entering from on-ramps can cause congestion at merge points on the main motorway. Ramp signals work by monitoring traffic flow and timing vehicle releases from the on-ramps to ensure a smoother, more efficient merge. "Usually, one vehicle is released per short cycle," Dia said. "They are implemented in many cities around the world to help ease congestion and improve safety. The ones running in Victoria have very sophisticated coordination algorithms." In fact, Melbourne's coordinated ramp metering system — part of the broader Managed Motorways strategy — uses real-time data from sensors embedded in the road to dynamically adjust the rate at which vehicles are released. This helps to prevent bottlenecks, maintain smoother traffic flow, and reduce stop-start driving, which in turn can cut travel times and improve fuel efficiency. Studies have shown that when implemented well, ramp metering can significantly improve freeway performance, with Victoria considered a national leader in this space due to its use of integrated technology and system-wide coordination. 🚘 Double typo spotted amid frustration over 'confusing' interchange 🚦 'Can't wait': Rozelle Interchange blasted 🚙 Major crackdown on drivers as 'rat-running' problem worsens Online, motorists shared their thoughts on the system. "It's ramp metering. It limits the amount of traffic that can merge to prevent the main arterial route from clogging up and slowing down," one person said. "Do they work? Absolutely. Does it suck having to sit in stop-start traffic for a while? Also absolutely." "I am kinda surprised that OP hasn't experienced these before, mustn't head out west often, at least not in peak times. They do work, sometimes. The issue I have with them is they still don't help those who shouldn't be driving on motorways to merge," said another. "They do work if people use them properly. I drive all day around Sydney and there's always the idiots that just ignore them and sail on through," commented a third. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Frustration erupts at notorious Aussie intersection over 'one second' green lights
Confusion has erupted after footage surfaced of a traffic light at a notoriously congested Australian intersection switching from red to green — and back to red — in just a second or two. It's no secret to anyone living in Sydney's metro area that the Rozelle Interchange, in the city's Inner West, is known for its heavy traffic. Despite the spot having recently received a major upgrade, it can still be tricky to navigate, particularly during busy periods. In the video, dashcam footage shows a driver waiting at a set of lights in the right lane, hoping to merge into traffic flowing onto the Anzac Bridge from the western entrance. Just one to two cars make it past the lights as they quickly flicker from red to green, and red again, with the video ending before the driver is able to get across. Hundreds of people responded to the footage, many sharing their surprise at the speed of the change. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Professor of Urban Mobility at Swinburne University, Hussein Dia, explained the concept is actually one employed in many parts of the country to limit congestion, particularly on motorways known for their bottleneck-like conditions. Referred to as "ramp metering", the system is a "key component of managed motorway operations", Dia said. It uses "coordination principles to reduce congestion and potential for conflicts, as the traffic from the on-ramp joins the main motorway lanes", he explained. "You can see the traffic merges near the horizon in the video." The idea is that heavy traffic entering from on-ramps can cause congestion at merge points on the main motorway. Ramp signals work by monitoring traffic flow and timing vehicle releases from the on-ramps to ensure a smoother, more efficient merge. "Usually, one vehicle is released per short cycle," Dia said. "They are implemented in many cities around the world to help ease congestion and improve safety. The ones running in Victoria have very sophisticated coordination algorithms." In fact, Melbourne's coordinated ramp metering system — part of the broader Managed Motorways strategy — uses real-time data from sensors embedded in the road to dynamically adjust the rate at which vehicles are released. This helps to prevent bottlenecks, maintain smoother traffic flow, and reduce stop-start driving, which in turn can cut travel times and improve fuel efficiency. Studies have shown that when implemented well, ramp metering can significantly improve freeway performance, with Victoria considered a national leader in this space due to its use of integrated technology and system-wide coordination. 🚘 Double typo spotted amid frustration over 'confusing' interchange 🚦 'Can't wait': Rozelle Interchange blasted 🚙 Major crackdown on drivers as 'rat-running' problem worsens Online, motorists shared their thoughts on the system. "It's ramp metering. It limits the amount of traffic that can merge to prevent the main arterial route from clogging up and slowing down," one person said. Do they work? Absolutely. Does it suck having to sit in stop-start traffic for a while? Also absolutely." "I am kinda surprised that OP hasn't experienced these before, mustn't head out west often, at least not in peak times. They do work, sometimes. The issue I have with them is they still don't help those who shouldn't be driving on motorways to merge," said another. "They do work if people use them properly. I drive all day around Sydney and there's always the idiots that just ignore them and sail on through," commented a third. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Car makers may soon withdraw Aussie models, increase prices ahead of major rule change
Australia's automotive market is facing serious uncertainty in the coming months, ahead of the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) that comes into effect in July, requiring manufacturers to meet stricter emissions targets or face heavy fines. Announced last year, the NVES sets carbon emissions limits for new cars sold in the country, mandating that manufacturers meet fleet-wide targets or face harsh financial penalties. The NVES — introduced in January, 2025 but enforced from July — aims to encourage the sale of more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles. Along with Russia, Australia was one of the last major countries without vehicle efficiency laws, which resulted in us becoming a "dumping ground" for the least efficient and most polluting cars. Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Hussein Dia, told Yahoo the changes will eventually be positive, even if not immediately apparent. "[It's] going to entice even European manufacturers," Dia said earlier. "We're not going to be a dumping ground for polluting vehicles anymore, which is a good thing", he added. From July, popular and well-known models, such as the Ford Everest 4x2 and Isuzu M-UX 4x2, may be pulled from sale due to classification as passenger vehicles, which have tighter restrictions, compared to their "commercial" 4x4 variants. Isuzu, Mazda, and Great Wall Motors have informed dealerships they anticipate incurring fines from NVES and may increase prices as a result. Toyota and Mitsubishi, while supportive of the policy, acknowledged the upcoming challenges. The changes may also mean availability of the wildly popular Toyota LandCruiser may soon become more limited, though Toyota assured the ABC it will maintain the supply of the "tool of trade" vehicle. It acknowledged the new targets are "very challenging" and said the company was still working through how to manage them. At the same time, electric vehicle (EV) uptake remains slower than the government's targets, raising questions about whether the market is ready to adapt to the NVES shift. While the year started with sluggish EV sales, recent figures suggest a modest rebound. The latest data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) showed that 8,385 battery electric vehicles were sold in Australia in March, making up 7.5 per cent of total new car sales for the month. However, this is still lower than March, 2024 when 10,464 EVs were sold, accounting for 9.5 per cent of the market. The decline has been attributed to weaker sales of Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, impacted by consumer sentiment surrounding Elon Musk's involvement in US politics and anticipation of a new Model Y release. Adding to the turmoil, Donald Trump's new tariffs on foreign automobiles and potential scrapping of EV subsidies in the US have created global market instability, leading some brands to reconsider their EV commitments. BYD a 'big win' for Aussies in electric car transition New charge for hundreds of thousands foreshadowed 'Tax': New Aussie car rules under fire The Coalition has proposed removing NVES penalties if elected, arguing it would ease cost-of-living pressures. However, industry experts warn that without fines, Australia could once again become a dumping ground for high-emission vehicles, and brands might limit EV supply. Limiting the supply of electric vehicles (EVs) could have significant negative consequences. It would slow down Australia's transition to cleaner, more sustainable transportation, hindering efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As global demand for EVs increases, restricting supply could also prevent manufacturers from capitalising on a growing market, which may hurt the local automotive industry's potential for growth and innovation. Forecasts suggest manufacturers could rack up $2.8 billion in NVES fines by 2029, and over 60 new EV models are soon expected to enter the Australian market, with sub-$60,000 options increasing significantly. Some stakeholders within the automotive industry are advocating for a 24-month grace period before the enforcement of fines. This proposed delay would allow manufacturers more time to adjust to the stricter emissions targets and prepare their fleets for compliance, but on the other hand, it may also prolong the reliance on high-emission vehicles in the market, delaying the overall shift toward greener alternatives. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
