Latest news with #drivererror
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
1 person hospitalized after driver crashes into Bells Corners Metro
A section of the wall of the Metro on Robertson Road in Bells Corners was damaged after a car was driven into it Friday, July 18, 2025. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa) The Ottawa Police Service says driver error led to a crash Friday afternoon into the wall of a grocery store in Bells Corners. First responders were called to the Metro on Robertson Road at around 2:45 p.m. Police say a man in his 90s was driving the vehicle. The Ottawa Paramedic Service says the senior was taken to hospital as a precaution with minor injuries, while a second man was assessed at the scene and released. The Metro remains open.
ABC News
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
Four Targa Tasmania rally race deaths due to 'driver error', coroner concludes
A coroner has concluded "driver error" was the cause of four deaths in three separate rally accidents, which occurred during the Targa Tasmania races in 2021 and 2022. Veteran driver Shane Navin was killed in the 2021 race when his 1979 Mazda RX-7 crashed at Double Barrel Creek on the Mount Arrowsmith stage of the race on the state's west coast. His co-driver Glenn Evans survived. The following day, driver Leigh Mundy, 68, of Hobart, and his co-driver Dennis Neagle, 59, of Withcott, Queensland, crashed on Wattle Grove Road near Cygnet. The following year, on the first day of the competition, Anthony 'Tony' Seymour died in a crash on the Mt Roland stage in the state's north-west. A coronial inquest was held in Hobart last year to examine the deaths of the Targa Tasmania competitors. In his findings, released on Thursday, Tasmanian coroner Simon Cooper said the common factor for deaths of Mr Mundy, Mr Neagle and Mr Seymour was "excessive speed". "I do not consider Mr Mundy and Mr Seymour took adequate precautions and care for their own safety (and the safety of their passengers) by driving at speeds that were, in all of the circumstances, excessive," Mr Cooper said. "I consider Mr Navin's death was also due to driver error." Mr Cooper also found that the driver's health was a "factor in each case". "I do not consider people suffering from the medical conditions that Mr Mundy and Mr Seymour had, should have been competing in such an event," he said. Mr Cooper said recommendations made from an internal review of the event "were comprehensive, and … adequately address many of the factors associated with the inquest". That review made 94 recommendations in February 2023 to make future events safer. The Motorsport Australia review, which made sweeping changes to Targa rules and safety requirements, came in the wake of four deaths within two years during Tasmanian events. In February 2023, the Targa Review Panel released its report with 94 recommendations. The popular events draw hundreds of competitors from around the country who race on public roads across a number of days. Targa Tasmania is a six-day 1,900-kilometre rally.
ABC News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
Australian Tesla owners seeking compensation as phantom braking leaves drivers 'completely terrified'
When Dominic Yin bought his Tesla two years ago he didn't think he'd be taken for "a scary ride". A few months after his purchase, he was driving on the highway between Sydney and Melbourne when the car suddenly braked for no apparent reason. He told 7.30 a truck was behind him at the time. "The truck driver behind me pressed (his) horn and (gave me the finger), and I pointed to the car: 'It's not me, it's the car'". The issue is widely known as phantom braking and Mr Yin says it has happened to him numerous times. Some Tesla drivers have reported phantom braking while their car is in autopilot mode, which according to Tesla, "enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane". It's not entirely autonomous driving, but you can take your foot off the accelerator while the car drives along at a set speed and slows down for other vehicles. Tesla advises drivers that they should keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times. The company also maintains autopilot is designed to make driving safer, but in the US, Tesla has been sued over several deadly crashes in which the system was enabled. The Elon Musk run company has reportedly settled some of these cases but not admitted to any wrongdoing, citing driver error. Last month Tesla shared a video on social media showing an apparent test drive of its semi-autonomous system on Melbourne's streets, and said not even hook turns were a problem. Following a US consumer lawsuit over phantom braking, about 10,000 Tesla drivers in Australia have registered their interest in a class action against the company. The case began in the Federal Court last month, claiming that Australian consumers were misled over phantom braking, battery range and self-driving capability. "The issues that have been reported to us are that vehicles can be driving along on the highway at 100 or 110kph and all of a sudden the brakes are applied suddenly and without reason," class action lawyer, Rebecca Jancauskas told 7.30. "Drivers have reported feeling completely terrified when their vehicles have braked suddenly and it has led in some cases to collisions. "We've had many reports of people who registered for this class action, telling us that they've been driving with their hands on the vehicle, fully alert, and these issues have occurred nonetheless." 7.30 invited Tesla Australia to respond to the claims but it did not reply. The federal infrastructure department is responsible for road safety and told 7.30 it had received only six reports from consumers about braking problems with Teslas over two years. Peter Khoury from the NRMA said Tesla drivers should raise their concerns if they are subject to any phantom braking. "If you are experiencing this occurring in your vehicle, go to the manufacturer immediately because this can be a safety risk if it is occurring," he said. "If you're not satisfied with what the manufacturer has told you or done, you're not powerless in Australia. There is the capacity to notify the Australian government." The Australian class action is seeking compensation for Tesla drivers, claiming they have lost resale value given the problems. Mr Yin said there's "no way" he would have bought his Tesla had he been made aware by Tesla about phantom braking. He wants a full refund or for Tesla to fix the problem. "You're always wondering when (it's) going to happen next," he said. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
