To anyone who is familiar with the book/movie the Ring you will remember the story. You know if you watch a certain show on TV you will die in a week. Well it seems that in Bulgaria a certain  mobile number has been doing its part in promoting the legend of the ring albeit in the current telco version. If you are unlucky to have a mobile number which is 0888 888 888, I’d consider buying life insurance. The previous owners died of cancer, and the others who “had” this number were executed by the mob. I guess it does happen if you are part of the mafia to begin with but thats another story. To all our fans please dont get a new mobile with this number 0888 888 888, even if it is an Iphone. Actually I will volunteer to be a lab rat, If anyone has an Iphone 4G, (come on people! I am taking a big risk here, the least you could do is to give me the best phone for what could very well be my last days here on earth) please give it to me for a month or two or however long I’ve got. ( I am hoping at least 2  months, that way I could roll-over my credits to next month, not that I would have left  any since I’d be on the phone like 24/7.

You can check out the link at http://www.news.com.au/technology/spooked-phone-bosses-in-bulgaria-suspend-number-after-everyone-who-owns-it-dies/story-e6frfro0-1225871340842.

So the moral of the story is : If you do have mobile phone  dont talk and drive as you could very well end up like the owners of 0888 888 88. That is no joke!

Yes, I know it has nothing to do with driving safety,but hey I am sure the boss wont read every blog ( fingers crossed)

I just thought of it , I mean you see and chat  with all your friends and their friends and their friends and so on …………… Sure you hear all the problems with privacy and people doing all sorts of crazy and silly things. I say if you are silly enough to put your info like Date of Birth, Addresses, crazy pics….. You might as well just send an email to your local thief and tell him when you going away for holidays. With my Iphone I can get on Facebook 24/7 and get updates straight away if any of my friends writes on my  wall or when my lost long friends want to add me to be their friends facebook. You can search on facebook for deals, discounts on shopping, promotions the list is endless.

Seriously if I could I’d be on facebook like 10 hours a day or at least 9-5. That would be the best job in the world. I could call myself a ‘face/book’ consultant. If anyone out there can help me get a job like that I will add you as my friend, hang on I will tell all my friends to add you as well. please………

Oh yes must remember to mention driving in this blog. Well if you get your P’s you can hang with you friends a lot more plus, its kinda nice to be away from home for a couple of hours. But when you do get home after a night out you can always check out  facebook….

Who among us doesn’t drive at night,?

We all know driving at night presents a whole new ball game to us drivers. Did you know pilots actually have to pass a whole new licence so they can fly at night?  Relax, I am sure there wont be any new laws which will require us to pass our driving tests at night.( i hope).

It is clear  driving at night means that you can’t see as much as during the day. (That one is a no-brainer). Its best to have a mental checklist when driving at night. Like making sure your headlights, and break lights (Yes I mean both of them)  are actually working. Dont forget about the High beams they might important, especially for navigating dark country roads or back alleys (and even for finding street numbers!)

If you borrow your mates car take a few minutes to check the basics like how to turn  the lights on and off and where the high beam switch is located. I drove my sister’s Astra the other day and the lights on that car are on a funny switch right next to the ingition, but it was unclear whether I had them on full or high beams.

Make sure you know where you are going, (pretty obvious) yet a all of us set of on unfamiliar journeys at night further complicating the situation. Invest in a GPS they are pretty cheap these days. I don’t leave home without it. It has been known to drive me in circles but overall she – my pommy lady friend (I don’t think I chose that accent!) gets me where I need to go.

Using low beam is not only a good idea its actually part of the road rules. If another vehicle is ahead within 200 meters keep your lights on low beam. There are a few hotshots who drive around with their fog lights on in normal evening driving conditions, that is very inconsiderate and annoying.

You must keep your headlights on low beam if a vehicle ahead of you is within 200 metres – watch out for traffic approaching you as well as vehicles ahead of you in your lane.

If someone dazzles you with their high beam, slow down, move towards the left of your lane and lower your eyes to the road. Stop if you can’t see where you’re going.

And Remember: “Reflective posts are there to help you” – Red reflectors are on the left and white are on the right

Drink Walking!

That’s correct you read right. More and more people are being hit by cars walking from pubs and clubs than ever before.

It seems the message of drink driving is slowly changing driver’s behaviour. The perverse side of this is more and more people are avoiding driving after a night out  (give yourselves a pat on the back,) but instead of driving they walk drunk on the streets and in some really scary moment lie down on the road to rest.  (The roads are for cars You know big metal things, not drunk sleepers using the middle of the road as their comfy bed)

Now we all know alcohol impairs your judgment making you do all sorts of crazy stuff you wouldn’t ordinarily do. (Think back I am sure there are a few incidents you can think of)

It’s hard to judge distances, speed of cars, remembering what your mobile number, where you live and so on… Now add to this crossing a road where a car is travelling at 17-meters/second things get a bit hairy. Alcohol gives you the feeling of confidence, and makes you take risks that have some extreme consequences.  The risks taken in a split moment have the ability to change your and your mates lives forever and in some instances result in death.

High traffic areas around pubs and clubs in our cities as well as country areas provide  a dangerous mix of people and cars. The frequency of these crashes occur mostly late on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when people go out to relax and have a good time.

OK, ok I get it I hear you say, So what’s the solution sit at home and watch re-runs of Glee all night? No, none of us would want that.How about catching a cab, or public transport?   Lets face it they are a faster way to get home than walking and there is plenty of them around. Many local areas have alternative transport options like a late night bus for drinkers. If you absolutely must walk use pedestrian crossings and make sure they are located in a well-lit areas.

Its not just walkers, which need to lookout. Drivers need to be extra vigilant driving at night and being aware of drunk walkers. Make sure you slow down in high-traffic areas and bear in mind some walkers maybe under the influence and behave in an unpredictable manner.

With the GFC still slowing things down it pays to save money where you can. Lets start with the cost of Petrol. ( Yes, I know OPEC control the price and the petrol companies don’t help us much) but there are some things we can do to save some $$.(hey more money in the pocket means funkier IPhone apps)

Tune it – if your engine isn’t running smoothly, it’s costing you fuel and money. It may pay to get a mechanic to tune the engine, hey it may cost a bit but, its cheaper in the long-run. Try www.ultratune.com.au.

Pump it – low tyre pressure will increase fuel consumption. This is ignored all the time,mainly because its so bloody hard to find an air- hose  at a decent petrol station. Can someone please do something about it, I am tired of driving around and around looking. I should just build an app for an IPhone to see which servos have it. Arrrggghhh

Unload it – don’t carry anything you don’t need to. The more your car weighs, the more fuel it uses. It’s a sensitive topic this one, oh wait we are talking about cars not the passengers. Oops. “Just get rid of the junk OK!” having heard this line thousands of times, in this case it actually makes sense. More weight equals more fuel equals less cappuccinos.

Shift it – shift gears when the revs are up. Choosing the wrong gear causes your car to burn fuel unnecessarily. Or just get a smart automatic. These days the smart manual transmission means no clutch ( I want one, I really do) think VW golf DSG so nice…….

Drive smoothly – avoid hard acceleration and braking. This is true for all of us, the smoother we ride the more comfortable we all are. No headaches or throwing up, that’s a good thing , think no cleaning up for the latter.

Stay warm – air conditioning uses a lot of petrol. Don’t use the air conditioning unless you have to. Use the old method windows down when going over 60 km/h, just like our parents use to do before the advent of air conditioning.

Slow down – according to the NRMA, at 110 km/h your car uses up to 25 per cent more fuel than cruising at 90 km/h. Well going slower means lower fuel consumption, but as long we stick to the speed limit we are fine. I probably wouldn’t advise slowing down on a freeway if we don’t  have to.

Public transport – sometimes it’s easier to use public transport. (lets face its  never easier but if we have to then might as well enjoy it. ( Turn the Ipod up loud!!!)

Free Iphone Application from the Roads and Traffic authority.

There are a few requirements like an Internet connection. Its a great little ap designed to make sure you are well prepared for your big exam day. The road rules feature is great, you really get an appreciation of the rules.

If you are lucky enough to own an IPhone and you are going for your road rules test check the app out at the App Store. Its free thanks to the NSW government (thanks Premier) the only thing better than that is passing the test on the on the first go!!!!!

They answer and you need to turn down your blaring music, so you cram your mobile under your neck, look down to adjust the volume, accidentally knock over your fries and coke lodged behind the gear shift and… congratulations, you’ve just hit the back of a bus!

NSW Police’s Traffic Services Commander Chief Superintendent John Hartley says there’s little doubt that distracted drivers can cause traffic problems and road crashes.

“Additionally, drivers now also have to contend with new or more affordable technologies like mobile telephones, MP3 players, CDs and in-car DVDs, which can act as a distraction,” Chief Superintendent Hartley says.

Here are some of the worst driver distractions:

Mobile phones (talking and texting)
Using a mobile while driving can increase the risk of a collision by four times, according to several studies. Sending a text message is even worse.

A hands-free device can also be a distraction, so your best bet is to just turn it off. No conversation is worth a whopping fine, demerit points and possibly a crash.

Adjusting vehicle settings
This is the most common bad driving habit, because many people don’t realise it’s dangerous to fiddle with the radio, air-conditioning or windows.

“Crashes often occur as a result of only a moment’s inattention,” says Hartley.

“While you’re changing the CD, your full attention isn’t on the road and [it is] placing you at risk of a crash.” The best idea is to make any adjustments before you set off.

Other occupants (human and animal!)
Young drivers have a greater risk of crashing when they have friends in the car.

The stats also tell us that there’s more chance of causing a fatal crash when you have two or more friends in the car, especially male passengers. However, the risk is reduced when carrying an adult or a child, compared with carrying no passengers.

Eating, drinking and smoking
Aside from the obvious dangers of drink-driving, even sipping on a non-alcoholic drink takes your focus off the road. An American study has found that eating a cheeseburger can be more distracting than talking on a mobile. And the risk of causing a crash is just one more reason not to smoke!

External distractions
As if there wasn’t enough happening inside the car, there are lots of things outside too. You have to look out for other drivers and pedestrians, while trying to block out the roadside billboards, shops and all sorts of unexpected or interesting things going on in the streets.

By mail

If you want to lodge your request of ‘Change of name’ by mail you will need to supply a completed Change of Personal Details form or supply a letter containing the following details;

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Full driver licence details
• Full vehicle licence details
• Boat registration number (if applicable)
• Firearm registration number (if applicable)
• Certified copies of one primary and one secondary identification plus certified copies of any documentation relating to the name change.
• Documents that may relate to a change of name are:
  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce papers
  • Change of Name certificate, deed poll papers or licence to change name documentation.

Applications should be mailed to your local Licensing Center.

In person

If you would like to apply in person to lodge a request to change your name, you can do this at any Licensing centre.

• You will need to provide primary and secondary identification along with the original documents relating to the name change.

The Western Australia Drive Safe book may be downloaded as a complete handbook or section by section:

• Full version of the Drive Safe Book (pdf 2.85 MB)

The Drive Safe book as separate sections:

• Part 1 - Introduction – Safe driving (pdf 945kb)
• Part 2 - How to obtain a Western Australian Licence (pdf 460kb)
• Part 3 - Major road rules and additional safety advice (pdf 1.7MB)
• Part 4 - Emergencies and crashes (pdf 615kb)
• Part 5 - The law and you (pdf 669kb)
• Part 6 - Ride safe (pdf 473kb)
• Part 7 - Appendices (pdf 463kb)

You may also download an audio version of the Drive Safe book below.

For anyone who is on their L’s, you can receive a  FREE driving lesson with an instructor, by registering on  https://www.keys2drivepilot.com.au.

You can search for all driving schools in Australia by logging on www.drivingschoolpages.com.au

You must be over 18, pass a practical and theoretical assessment of your competency, carried out by a Registered Forklift Assessor authorized in the Forklift classification you have trained for.This broad principle applies to all applicants for a “Worksafe” issued license.

Yes, provided you are supervised by the nominated holder of a Forklift Licence and the training you are receiving is for the sole purpose of gaining your own Forklift Licence. You may be required to record the training undertaken in your training log book, duely signed by your supervisor.
Supervision means within sight and sound at all times whilst the ”Learner” is operating the equipment.

Where do I get the theory from?

Once the National Training and Assessment System is adopted all applicants will be required to be processed through an RTO (Registered Training Organisation), their training will result in sufficient competency to enable an applicant to then pass the assessment conducted by an assessor

Where can I find a Registered Training Organisation?

Have a look at our truck section. Many of the trucking driving schools also do forklift training.

Good luck!

10 Tips For What to Do In Case of a Car Accident.

Although we try diligently to avoid car accidents by driving defensively and know that it is much better not to get involved in an accident at all, you may be wondering, what exactly should I do if I’m ever involved in a car accident? Well, in this brief article, we will discuss the top 10 things that you should do if you’re ever involved in a car accident. So, sit back, relax and get ready to learn!

1.          Remain calm and stay put. First and foremost, remain calm and don’t keep going. Although you may be feeling tense, excited, upset or all three emotions, the absolute worse thing that you can do is flee. Yes, it might feel tempting to drive away but fleeing from the scene of the incident is never a good idea and may bring harsh penalties. Instead, you should remain where you are, stay calm and by all means, DO NOT PANIC!!. By maintaining a calm and focused demeanor, you’ll remain in control and will be able to provide key information.

2.         Don’t admit fault. Even if you believe that the accident was your fault, you should never, ever admit fault to anyone other than your insurance agent or your lawyer. Never discuss your feelings with the other involved party and never agree to pay for any damages. Instead, don’t discuss it at all and remember that anything you say can and will most likely be utilized against you. Remember – NEVER ADMIT FAULT!!

3.         Move out of the way. If your car is located in a high traffic area, you should move out of the loop of upcoming traffic. By moving your car, you may be able to avoid another accident. The only exception to this is if your car is so badly damaged that it can’t be moved. If that is the case, simply leave it where it is until you have assistance.

4.         Check out your passengers. Check to see if anyone needs medical attention. If they do, seek medical assistance immediately by calling 000 in Australia (use your common sense if outside these countries and look up the emergency contact number). Explain the situation and give the exact location of the accident. Act quickly and calmly because you have no time to waste. Time is of the essence in getting the required care for the injured person(s). If you’re trained in first aid then implement medical procedures. Just remember to never move someone who is badly hurt (unless you believe that moving them might prevent further injuries).

5. Warn other motorists. Warn other motorists that the accident has occurred. This can be accomplished by placing emergency flares on the road or turning on your car’s hazard lights. Another option is to lift the car’s engine. This will signal to other motorist to steer clear of your car and the accident site.

6.         Report the accident. Contact the police immediately to report the accident. When you reach them, remain calm and speak clearly. Tell them exactly where you’re located so that they can find you. They’ll likely inform you whether they’ll be sending an officer or whether you’ll be required to meet them at the station to file a police report

7.         Contact insurance company. After you contact the police, contact your insurance company to report the claim. Many policies require this step to approve of your claim and may deny it if you don’t call in a timely manner. When you talk to your claim representative, be prepared to give them detailed information about the accident.

8.         Exchange vital information. Exchange vital information with the other driver. Make sure that you obtain their name, address, phone number, date of birth, driver’s license numbers of all drivers and witnesses, insurance company information and policy numbers. Also jot down the make of their car, year, model, V.I.N. number (this is on their registration paper), license plate and sticker expiration date(on the windscreen). Lastly, write down any names and addresses of all witnesses and the name and badge number of any officers.

9.         Draw a detailed diagram. Draw a detailed diagram of the accident which includes a picture of both cars before, during, and after the accident. In addition, if you notice any skid marks, lights, stop signs, etc., make sure that you include them as well. Lastly, if you have a camera or picture phone, make sure that you take photographs because these may be used as evidence.

10.       Fill out a police report. Next, take your time when filling out the police report. Be as accurate and truthful as you can and provide the police with all requested information. Write clearly and be as detailed as you possibly can.

In conclusion, no one wants to be involved in a car accident. However, if you are involved in one, you don’t have to panic. Instead, you should remain calm and don’t drive away. Stay put, don’t admit fault, move away from incoming traffic, evaluate your passengers, warn other motorists, report the accident, contact insurance company, exchange vital information, draw a detailed diagram and fill out a police report. By doing this, you’ll improve upon a very difficult situation and provide invaluable aid when it is needed the most.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand indicates that there may be a link between car color and serious injuries as a result of car accidents. Their findings were published in the The British Medical Journal in December 2003.

The study involved accidents in New Zealand between 1998 and 1999. According to their findings, drivers of brown cars had the highest risk of sustaining serious injuries caused by auto accidents. Black and green cars also had elevated risks.

Which are the safest cars? Drivers of silver-colored cars, according to the report, have a 50% less chance of being involved in an injury-causing accident than do drivers of white cars! While the results are surprising, more studies need to be performed before we all rush out and repaint or replace our vehicles.

The scientists did not explain why there was such a disparity in accident rates. Perhaps lighter colored cars are more visible, or perhaps the people who choose such cars are a self-selecting group of safe drivers.

A study by MUARC – Monash University Accident Research Centre has found that having Electronic Stability Control(ESC) fitted to your car reduces the risk of driver injury in a crash by up to 32 per cent. Research also showed the risk of driver injury in a 4WD in a single vehicle crash was reduced by 68 per cent.

What is Electronic Stability Control?

ESC is an advanced vehicle safety technology that compares the position of the steering wheel to the vehicle’s direction of travel. When a difference is detected, it automatically applies brake pressure to individual wheels. By correcting understeer or oversteer, ESC helps keep the driver in control of their vehicle. Some versions of ESC also reduce engine power.

It is different to ABS and traction control as it acts independently of the driver but it does act in conjunction with these functions.

Does my car have ESC?

ESC is also known as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) – depending on the vehicle manufacturer. If your vehicle is fitted with one of these or a similar variant, then yes, it does have ESC.

Prior to 2007, few cars came standard with ESC. After its development, it was often available as an option, if at all, and mainly on luxury car models. However, today many manufacturers are making ESC standard in new models, sometimes even across the entire range.

MUARC’s ESC study

The study used crash data from “Australia and New Zealand to evaluate the effectiveness of ESC in reducing crash risk and to establish whether benefits estimated in overseas studies have translated to the Australian and New Zealand environments.”

MUARC looked at crashes involving 7,699 vehicles comprised of 90 different models, making it the broadest study of ESC-fitted vehicles carried out to date.

It found that:

• Vehicles with ESC had a 32 per cent reduction in the risk of single vehicle crashes in which drivers were injured;
• ESC was more effective in preventing single vehicle crashes for 4WDs (68 per cent reduction) than for passenger cars (28 per cent reduction);
• ESC was more effective in preventing crashes resulting in driver injury than less serious crashes.

The study did not show if ESC was effective in preventing or reducing the severity of multiple vehicle crashes. But it did predict that ESC would prevent “nearly 500 serious injury crashes in Australia over the period to 2015.”

In December 2009, the RTA began to combine red-light cameras with fixed speed cameras at 50 locations across the state. The safety camera is capable of detecting speeding vehicles, vehicles running red lights, or both.

No new ‘combined’ offences have been created. Drivers will face a penalty notice and associated demerit points for each offence committed.

Safety cameras are being introduced to make intersections safer and reduce the number of crashes at traffic lights.

According to the RTA, “Evaluations of camera enforcement of red-light offences conducted in Australia and overseas have shown this type of enforcement is clearly effective in reducing casualty crashes at intersections. When the evaluations were considered together it is estimated that camera enforcement of red-light offences reduces the number of casualty crashes at intersections by around 30 per cent.”

Intersections with safety cameras will be signposted accordingly. However, motorists need to be aware that there is only one sign warning of the new safety camera, unlike existing fixed speed cameras which have three warning signs in advance.

For more information, please visit the RTA’s Safety camera page.

Part 14 of Road Rules 2008 covers pedestrians. Some of the key rules in this section are:

230  Crossing a road – general

1. A pedestrian crossing a road:
   (a)  must cross by the shortest safe route, and
   (b)  must not stay on the road longer than necessary to cross the road safely.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

236  Pedestrians not to cause a traffic hazard or obstruction

1. A pedestrian must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver.
   Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
2. A pedestrian must not unreasonably obstruct the path of any driver or another pedestrian.

238  Pedestrians travelling along a road (except in or on a wheeled recreational device or toy)

1. A pedestrian must not travel along a road if there is a footpath or nature strip adjacent to the road, unless it is impracticable to travel on the footpath or nature strip.

Read the full Rules for pedestrians.

Q: What are the changes to the Learner Driver Licensing Scheme?

A: A learner driver who completes a 1 hour structured driving lesson with a fully licensed driving instructor can record 3 hours driving experience in their Learner driver log-book.

Q: When do the changes come into effect?

A: From 19 December 2009.

Q: Is there a minimum or maximum limit on the number of driving experience hours I can record in the Learner driver log-book?

A: While there is no minimum requirement for structured lesson hours, you’re only allowed a maximum of 10 structured lesson hours to be recorded as 30 hours in your log-book. This change doesn’t mean driving lessons are compulsory or that you should stop having professional lessons after reaching the 10 hours of training.

Q: Do I still need to complete the minimum 120 driving experience hours?

A: Yes, the 120 hour minimum driving experience requirement remains the same for all Learner drivers - if you are under 25 years old, you will still need to hold your L-Licence for at least 12 months before attempting to take the Driving Test.

Additionally, learner drivers who are 25 and over are now exempt from completing the Learner driver log-book and any tenure requirement, as of 19 December 2009. They are still required to complete all other formal licensing requirements and are encouraged to use the log book and obtain as much on-road practice with a supervising driver or driving instructor as possible.

Q: Can I record 1 night driving hour as 3?

A: Structured driving lessons done at night (between sunset & sunrise) count for only 1 hour of night driving towards the required 20 hours, with other 2 hours added towards your day driving hours in your log-book for the corresponding entry.

Q: What’s considered as a “structured driving lesson”?

A: The driving lesson must be supervised by a fully licensed driving instructor, who will develop a structured lesson using the RTA Driving Instructor Lesson Planner. The driving instructor is required to keep a copy of each lesson completed in the Lesson Planner for auditing purposes. Each lesson should help enhance a learner driver’s practical skills in low-risk driving. The Learner driver log-book has a good outline of these low-risk driving principles.

The driving instructor will also complete the Structured Lesson Record Keeper – this is a summary of all the structured lessons you’ve taken. You need to attach this Record Keeper to the Declaration of Completion on page 111 of your Learner driver log-book.

Q: Can I count previous professional driving lessons completed before 19 December 2009?

A: Yes, lessons taken with a fully licensed driving instructor before 19 December 2009 count towards the maximum of 10 structured lesson hours recorded as 30 hours in your log-book.  You can record these previous lessons in the Lesson Record Keeper – only the date, duration of each lesson and name of your driving school need to be completed. Where a driving instructor’s signature can’t be obtained, that particular lesson can be verified by your regular supervising driver, who will need to sign the Supplementary Declaration of Completion section.

Q: Are there any new log-book requirements for learner drivers over 25 years old?

A: Learner drivers over 25 years old no longer need to present their Learner driver log-book before attempting the Driving Test.

Obtained from http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/learner-driving-licensing-scheme-rules.htm

Taxi drivers in NSW must hold a NSW driver’s licence and a Taxi Driver Authority from the NSW Department of Transport.

For information, contact:

Taxi and Hire Car Bureau
Locked Bag 5085
Level 5, 6 Parkes St
Parramatta NSW 2124
Tel: 02 9689 8888
Fax: 9689 8813