Author Archives: Daniel @ NRMA

Top 10 Most Misunderstood Road Rules

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Should slow cars keep left?

TEST-TIME: Use this list to cross your Ls and dot your Ps.

Should slow cars keep left? Do you need to indicate at roundabouts? Are you allowed to drive through a yellow light? 

“The community told us they didn’t understand some of the changes we made last
year and they also told us they were not sure about many other existing rules,” said NSW Roads Minister Mr Duncan Gay in a press release.

“To address this issue we have developed a guide answering many of the unknowns
about road rules in a simple way.”

These are the 10 most misunderstood road rules in the state, according to Transport for NSW.

1. ROUNDABOUTS: Drivers approaching a roundabout must use their indicators when turning or making a U-turn. There is no requirement for drivers to signal when approaching the roundabout, if they are going straight ahead.

2. GIVING WAY TO PEDESTRIANS: If a driver is turning left or right at an intersection, the driver must give way to any pedestrian crossing the road the driver is entering. This applies to intersections with and without traffic lights.

3. MOBILE PHONES: A mobile phone can only be used while driving if it’s secured in a commercially designed and manufactured mounting fixed to the vehicle or operated by Bluetooth technology or voice activation. This includes the navigational or GPS function and audio functions of the device.

4. MERGING: When a driver is travelling on a road without lane markings and the number of lanes is reduced, they must merge by giving way to any vehicle that is ahead of them. However a driver who is moving from one lane, marked by broken lines (whether or not the lane is ending) to another must give way to any vehicle already travelling in the same direction.

5. KEEPING LEFT: On roads with a speed limit of more than 80km/h, motorists must not drive in the right-hand lane unless overtaking, turning right or making a U-turn, avoiding an obstacle or driving in congested traffic. If a ‘Keep Left Unless Overtaking’ sign is displayed, then you must keep left regardless of the speed limit.

6. HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHT USE: High beam is not permitted if travelling less than 200 metres behind a car going in the same direction or less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle. It is an offence to flash the vehicle’s headlights unless the vehicle is being used to respond to an emergency. A driver is only permitted to use fog lights if driving in fog, mist or other atmospheric condition that restricts visibility.

7. U-TURNS: When making a U-turn a driver must have a clear view of any approaching traffic and give way to all vehicles and pedestrians. Drivers are not allowed to make a U-turn across: a) a single continuous dividing line; b) a single continuous dividing line to the left of a broken line; c) two parallel continuous dividing lines.

8. SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE: Drivers should stay three seconds behind vehicles in front of them. In poor conditions such as rain, gravel roads or dim light, it may be necessary to increase the travelling distance to four seconds to increase the crash avoidance space.

9. SCHOOL ZONES: A school zone is the area around a school with a speed limit of 40km/h normally from 8am to 9.30am and between 2.30pm and 4pm on school days. Details on NSW gazetted school days can be located here. There are a small number of non-standard school zone times in NSW. These zones are identified by red/orange school zone signs which indicate non-standard times. Signs at these schools display the times which apply.

10. YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHTS: A driver approaching traffic lights showing a yellow traffic light must stop if they can do so safely. Penalties apply for drivers who fail to stop at a yellow light, unless it is unsafe to do so.

How did you go? Do many NSW drivers misunderstand these rules?

Should motorbikes be allowed ride through stationary traffic?

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Lane Filtering - Should motorbikes be allowed ride around stationary traffic?

GO WITH THE FLOW: To try and improve traffic congestion, the NSW Government are legalising lane filtering in a section of the CBD for the next few months. Do you think this is a good idea? Image: www.autoblog.com

From 1 February until 1 May this year, it will be legal for motorcyclists to ride through stationary traffic at intersections in parts of the Sydney CBD.

This practice of moving between stationary vehicles is known as Lane Filtering.

“Lane filtering is currently against the law, however there will be an exemption for motorcyclists in part of the CBD, which will permit them to filter through traffic when vehicles are stopped at traffic lights,” said Roads Minister Mr Duncan Gay.

Mr Gay is using the three-month trial to test if motorbike lane filtering improves traffic flow. Lane Filtering will be confined to the areas bordered by Sussex and Market Streets, St James Road, Macquarie and Alfred Streets and Hickson Road.

Although the practice is legal in other countries such as the United Kingdom and much of mainland Europe, Mr Gay wants to find strong evidence it works here before making any changes to road rules.

“This trial is not about favouring one road user group over another, it is a system which could benefit all motorists in the CBD. It needs to be tested to ensure it improves traffic flow while not jeopardising road safety,” said Mr Gay.

Conditions for motorcyclists:

  • Specific conditions will include taking extra care when filtering near buses, no filtering on the left in the kerbside left lane or dedicated turning lanes, and riders must stop at the intersection stop-line.
  • Lane splitting will not be allowed – this involves motorcyclists weaving through moving traffic instead of stationary traffic.

What do you think of Lane Filtering as an idea to improve traffic flow?

Australian Motor Show Sydney – done and dusted

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Lamborghini Sesto Elemento at AIMS 2012, Sydney.

SHOW-STOPPER: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento at Sydney’s Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour – built extensively from carbon, weighing 999kg with a 419kW V10 engine that goes 0-100km/h in in 2.6 secs.

Think motor show and you think supercars, concept cars and leggy promo models – but the 2012 AIMS, which has just wrapped up, could be seen as a victory for the everyday buyer.

Jaguar had its F-Type, Lamborghini had yet another new Gallardo (plus the scandalously good looking Sesto Elemento above) and there was even an ultra rare Aston Martin One-77 – priced at a cool $2.7 million – on display.

Aston Martin One-77 at AIMS 2012, Sydney

SHINY: Ultra rare Aston Martin One-77. Only 77 ever made – costing roughly $3m, if you can find one!

In contrast, though, Holden uncovered the family-focused Colorado 7 SUV, Ford delivered an impressive new Mondeo, an all-new Kuga, plus an eye-catching concept car the Evos.

Ford EVOS at AIMS 2012, Sydney

FORD EVOS CONCEPT COUPE:  Ford says it showcases a new vision for customer-focused smart technologies and global design language. “Fully cloud connected”,  it’s designed to connect into your smart home, so that when you pull out of the driveway, your car tells the house you’ve left, turns off the lights inside, locks the door and does the dishes (well, not that last bit but it’s still pretty darn clever).

Motor shows have an issue, though: the internet. Just about all of the new vehicles had ‘broken cover’ online weeks before the Motor Show’s series of ritzy reveals, questioning the relevance of an event that costs companies huge amounts of money. Many, like Audi, BMW, Ferrari, MINI, Chrysler and Jeep didn’t even attend this year.

However, as show director Russ Tyrie pointed out, the 27 brands at the show represented almost 95 per cent of cars people actually buy.

Toyota debuted its 11th-generation Corolla, Nissan relaunched the Pulsar nameplate in Australia and both Kia and Hyundai launched new, value-packed cars.

Toyota Corolla Levin ZR

TOYOTA COROLLA LEVIN ZR: Toyota faces its stiffest market challenge to date as it debuted the 2013 Corolla at the Australian Motor Show.

Evolution of the Toyota Corolla at AIMS 2012

EVOLUTION: Just four of the 11 generations of Toyota Corolla which have been built since 1966. The newest is pictured above.

Whereas the last show in 2011 had a strong alternative energy theme, there were only a couple of vehicles on the show floor painted in the green brush. The focus returned to small-capacity, high-efficiency conventional engines like Mazda’s SkyActiv and Mercedes-Benz’s CDI diesels, to name just a couple.

Did you go along to the Motor Show? What were your favourite bits?

Electric revolution within reach

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Govecs GO! TSeries

WATT-UP: With an entry level price of $3,613 for an electric scooter, the prospect of an electrically powered commute to work is now a cost-effective one for Australians.

It was announced earlier this month that European electric scooter brand Govecs is on sale Down Under. With an entry level price of $3,613 for a Govecs GO! T1.2, electric-powered vehicles are suddenly affordable for Australians. So, could the introduction of these scooters, which can be recharged at any household power socket, be an important step in the drive towards zero-emissions commuting?

The electric scooter technology has been in development by American company Vectrix since 2007. The New York Police Department had planned to integrate the new scooters into its fleet in 2008 but Vectrix couldn’t produce the vehicles in a cost-effective way and the company faced bankruptcy in 2009, before being refinanced and restructured into a much smaller operation.

This enabled Govecs to be set up quickly by a former Vectrix engineer Nick Holdcraft and his business partner Thomas Gruebel in 2009. They set up an operation in the same Polish town as Vectrix and created a new company with “the goal of manufacturing fully electric high-end scooters in Europe for the world wide market”.

Govecs has been making steady progress and was recently awarded “European e-Scooter of the Year”. On average, assembling one of the electric scooters requires approximately 650 components, which all need to be sourced from around the globe. It’s a complex business model but is aided by Govecs’ policy to distribute its scooters to importers, which are responsible for sales and marketing in each importer’s country.

The company is entering the Australian market now to offset seasonal sales swings in Europe, as people tend to purchase coming into spring.

There are five models in the line-up. All five share the same rolling chassis, including belt final drive and 13-inch wheels, with the T1.2 ($3,613) and award-winning T2.4 ($5,767) based on 50cc petrol-powered scooters. They are speed-limited to 50km/h – which means they can be ridden on car licences in Western Australia and Queensland.

There are also premium versions of those two scooters – the T1.2 (+) and T2.4 (+) – which have a maximum speed of 62km/h. The main difference between the 1.2 and 2.4 is the type of battery used, with the former powered by a silicon unit and the 2.4 by a more advanced lithium design. The silicon battery has a range of 50-60km and lasts about 20,000km, figures which the lithium exceeds with ease: 60-100km and 50,000km respectively.

So as a commuting vehicle, these scooters can now be considered as a cheap, practical, and green option. In theory, they should also get the best parking spots, are very cheap to run and can beat peak hour traffic.

What do you think? Would you use an electric scooter for suburban and city commuting?

How to avoid car buyer’s remorse

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Buying a new car

REGRET ME NOT: The second you sign a contract for a new car, it’s hard to get out of the deal so read these tips to ensure you sign with confidence.

Could I have got a better deal? Have I spent too much? Is this the car I really want?

These are questions you need to preempt before signing the dotted line on a new car deal. While a little buyer’s remorse is natural with any expensive purchase, a lot is not. There’s nothing worse than feeling like you didn’t get the deal you wanted after the ink is dry on a contract you just signed.

Around this time of year especially, car dealerships are desperate to do deals. Adverts on the radio, TV and in the press talk up “crazy last chance offers” and “one-off end of Financial Year countdown deals”. This dealership frenzy to meet targets and clear car-yards for new stock means there is great value out there for new car buyers. However, a high-pressure sales environment also brings increased risks, where costly mistakes can be made. Car showrooms are intimidating places at the best of times, so you need to have a pretty clear idea of what you want before wandering in.

You’ll need to be very confident about:

  1. How much you are willing to spend – There might be better value in a car $2,000 over your budget, but that’s still two grand too much.
  2. What kind of car you want – All salespeople worth their salt will try to up-sell. If you know you want a 1.4 litre, three-door hatchback, then don’t be tempted by anything else.

To work out exactly what vehicle you want, think about what you need and then research your options thoroughly. A good place to start is the Buying advice section of the NRMA website. Ideally, before you walk into the showroom you should know close to what you want, including the model grade, the features, the options and the recommended retail price. All this information is freely available online and can be found by simply googling. Important factors which are often overlooked are fuel efficiency and running costs – luxury vehicles and some imported models can be expensive to run, service and repair, so bear that in mind. Check out the NRMA Car Operating Costs Calculator to see what model fits your budget.

It will help you enormously to know what to expect in a car showroom and what’s expected of you. The second you sign the contract it’s hard to get out of the deal, so read these tips to ensure you sign with confidence:

  • MAKE A LIST: Prior to heading out, take a moment to write down what you are looking for in a car. This will keep you on track when you’re down at the dealership.
  • SHOP AROUND: Decide to visit a few dealers stocking the car brand you want to purchase, starting with the one furthest from your area. By the time you reach your local dealer last, you should know exactly what vehicle and price you are after and be ready to do business.
  • BRING A MATE: Many dealers will let you inspect and test drive a car in a calm environment but there are some who apply pressure or excessive charm. In the thrill of sitting in a new car and sharing your excitement with the dealer you may lose sight of your plan or pay too much. Bringing an impartial friend with a sense of detachment could save you in the long term.
  • EVERYTHING’S NEGOTIABLE: An attractive top-line price can be offset by high dealer delivery fees. The delivery fee is a standard added cost to cover getting the car prepared for delivery to the customer: removing plastic, cleaning, having a mechanic inspect it and completing the registration process. This fee is generally a source of profit for dealers so feel free to haggle. Most dealers quote around $1,500-$1,700 but some charge as much as they can so read the fine print.
  • A STITCH IN TIME: Sales staff will sometimes do a very low-profit deal at the end of the month in order to meet a sales target and win a bonus. So if you are ready to buy in the last week of the month, a better discount may be available. If you want to do this kind of deal however, you do need to be prepared to buy on the same day. In any case, don’t fret. There’s always next month.
  • PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE: Sales staff don’t like to see you walking out the door to compare their prices with other dealers. They will ask to to do a deal. Do not feel hassled into signing any paperwork on the spot. Go away, make a considered judgment, check the price against other quotes and then return to sign a contract if you’re happy. There’s no sense rushing into a deal that may take years to pay off.
  • ENSURE DEPOSIT IS REFUNDABLE: Be wary of putting down a deposit unless you have a 100% guarantee it’s fully refundable should the deal fall through.
  • RESEARCH RATES: When it comes to finance and insurance, shop around online to see what are the best rates available. The NRMA Car Loan Calculator is a great place to start. Salespeople will push their own in-house services because they get a commission from each deal they sign up. Don’t dismiss the rates they offer, as dealer finance packages can be very competitive nowadays.
  • SKIP THE EXTRAS: When the “after market accessory specialist” is introduced, it is time to be extra cautious. This person’s job it is to sell you extra items such as rust proofing, paint protection, headlight protectors and floor mats. While some of these items are worth having, some are not. In many cases, you’ll find them cheaper if you shop around after you buy the car. Unless you’re sure they are great value, say thanks but no thanks. Members can call our motoring advice team on 13 11 22 if they are in any doubt over what extras are necessary.
  • COOLING OFF PERIOD: There is a ‘cooling-off period’ that applies if you purchase a car from a dealership and the dealership arranges your loan for the car, or supplies application forms for, or a referral to, a credit provider. Under these circumstances only, you have one day to change your mind. During the cooling-off period the purchaser can cancel the contract by signed, written notice given to the dealer. If the buyer backs out after this cooling off period, the purchaser will be liable to pay the dealer $250, or 2% of the purchase price, whichever is the lesser amount. It is also important to examine the T&Cs of the contract as these terms can vary. Members can call our motoring advice team on 13 11 22 for more info.

When you get it right, buying a new car is a great experience. Once you’ve done your homework thoroughly, shopped around and negotiated a price you are comfortable with, you can drive off the lot in confidence – savoring that new car smell and beaming from ear-to-ear at a deal well done.