Talking further on National Road Safety Week starting today – a timesurely to reflect on the current poor driving standard in this state, Thecampaign is national however we still don’t have a set of national roadrules – individual states still singing from a different hymn book. NationalRoad Safety Week is the work of Peter Frazer who daughter Sarah wastragically killed by a truck driver in a totally avoidable crash on the HumeHighway at Mittagong in Feb 2012 when her car broke down. Tow truckdriver Geoffrey Clark and Sarah were loading her car when they were killedby the passing truck. Soon after N.S.W. expanded the road rule requiringdrivers to slow down to 40km/h for emergency responders to also includetow truck and roadside assistance workers. Amazingly, Victoria onlyannounced this week that from July 1 the current road rule requiringdrivers and motorcycle riders to slow down to 40km/h for police, fire, andambulance would be expanded - now including tow trucks, roadsideassistance and incident response vehicles displaying flashing lights. Itbeggars’ belief that after Sarah Frazer’s tragic death in 2012 it’s takenVictoria 13 years to implement a road rule which surely should have beennational road rule from Day 1. I’m David BerthonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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National Road Safety Week – May 11 to 18
National Road Safety Week kicks off today, a time to reflect on the currentpoor driving standard in this state, National Road Safety Week the projectof Peter Frazer whose daughter Sarah was tragically killed by a truck driverin a totally avoidable crash on the Hume Highway at Mittigong in February2012. Since then, Peter has devoted his life to improving road safety -founding SARAH, standing for Safer Australian Roads and Highways. Thedriving force behind Australia’s National Road Safety Week and the roadsafety symbol the Yellow Ribbon. A campaign suggesting you wear ayellow ribbon on yourself and your car to show your support and make apledge on the SARAH website – “to drive so others survive” – to me giventhe total disregard by many motorists to road safety wearing a yellowribbon on yourself and your car is far too weak a message to what is aworsening problem year on year. We’ve just had two long weekends withincreased fatalities and numerous injuries. It’s clear there has beensubstantial vehicle growth in N.S.W. – a lot of new drivers mainly fromoverseas with poor knowledge of our road rules and driving conditions –you witness it almost daily – driver behavior and attitude is at an all-timelow, and driver education and compliance testing is in need of a radicaloverhaul. I’m David BerthonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Mazda slices up to $5,560 off their 15-model CX-60 SUV range
Perhaps indicative of the hard trading conditions and highly competitivenew vehicle market Mazda has taken the axe to pricing on its CX-60 SUV.Up to $5,560 has been shaved from some models in the luxury CX-60 line-up - now priced from $53,990 drive-away while six new variants have beenadded across the Pure and Touring grades. First launched in 2023 theMazda CX-60 was criticised for its harsh ride and twitchy gear shifts. Assuch the update brings new rear springs and dampers, revised stabilitycontrols and a recalibrated 8-speed automatic transmission. Plus, allmodels now get a 360-degree camera and front cross traffic alert.Specification has been added right across the Mazda CX-60 range which isthe best seller in the medium SUV segment above $60,000, ahead of theLexus NX and the Kia EV5. I’m David BerthonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Luxury car tax under the spotlight again
As reported in the Australian this week it seems the luxury car tax couldsoon be abolished as the re-elected Government gets calls from theEuropean Union to speed things up on a proposed free trade agreement.For so long a thorn in the side of the car industry the Luxury Car tax mostaffecting European imports and depending on the vehicles sticker priceadding 33 cents for every dollar it is over a threshold of $91,387 on fuelefficient vehicles, and on all others that average more than 7L/100km,$80,567. To make matters worse from July 1, the fuel consumption figurewill lower to 3.5L/100 trapping a number of previously exempt models.Luxury car tax was implemented to protect our local industry which nolonger exists – the Governments problem, how to replace the $1.2 billiondollars it generates. I’m David BerthonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Mazda’s CX-5 Maxx Sport SUV – long standing but still a very competent SUV
Further on Mazda’s long standing CX-5 SUV but still highly competitive with ten models in a mix of petrol and diesel and front or all-wheel drive, I’m driving the second tier 2.5-litre six-speed automatic CX-5 Maxx Sport front wheel drive at $43,184 drive-away with optional metallic paint. I did nearly 900km over the Anzac weekend with a lot of highway cruising at the open road limit. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 140kW and 252Nm of torque did a workmanlike job but what surprised was the economy, averaging 7.4L/100km on 91 grade petrol with four passengers. This is simply a great allrounder, well shod 17-inch alloy wheels provide a very comfortable ride while the electric power assistance offers good feel whilst parking and on the run. Comfort and convenience items include dual zone climate control, satellite navigation, a head-up instrument display, well bolstered cloth seats, a rear-view camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a good level of active safety elements. Thankfully the warning elements are not intrusive like many of the new breed of Chinese SUV’s. Disappointments – no wireless phone charger and the lack of a power rear door. However, the Mazda CX-5 is still up there as one of our best mid-size SUV’s. I’m David BerthonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.
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