Ironically, the right side is in fact left. Here’s why it matters which side of the footpath you walk on.

Keep left unless overtaking

Unlike motorists who must legally keep left unless overtaking, pedestrians aren’t required to walk on the left side of the footpath.

It is, however, a good idea to keep left on the footpath, according to RAA Senior Manager for Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain.

“Similar to driving, keeping left can help pedestrian flow and give other footpath users the chance to pass if needed, particularly along some of the more popular paths like the coastal walk from Seacliff to Glenelg,” Charles says.

Safety aside, there are some lesser-known benefits to sticking left. If you’ve ever encountered an awkward moment weaving back-and-forth with a fellow pedestrian as you both decide who should pass who first, then sticking left might avoid future run-ins.

Footpath formalities

Now that we know which side of the footpath to stick to, there are a few ways to walk safely to avoid collisions with fellow footpath users who may not have got the memo that left is best.

When you’re walking on a footpath or shared path, it’s important not to unnecessarily block the path of fellow footpath. If you’re riding a bike, e-bike, wheeled recreational device or a personal mobility device (PMD), you must give way to pedestrians. This is where split paths can be useful. These are dedicated paths for walking and for bikes or e-scooter users.

If you’re walking or riding on a separated path, then it’s important to keep to the side of the path that matches your mode of transport. Bike only paths, as the name implies, are for bikes and wheeled devices, including e-scooters.

“Where there are separated paths, pedestrians mustn’t walk in the bike-only section and vice versa,” Charles says.

Pedestrians also mustn’t walk on bicycle only paths. In fact, they can be fined $61 if they fail to keep out of the path of cyclists.

No matter which side you’re on, knowing your surroundings and being aware of those you’re sharing the footpath with is important.

“When walking with friends, be mindful not to block the path of approaching pedestrians by walking three abreast,” Charles says. “Disband to allow other pedestrians or cyclists to pass and then regroup if you must.”

What happens when there’s no footpath?

If there’s no footpath or nature strip, or it’s not practical to use, pedestrians may walk on the side of the road. That said, it’s a lot riskier, so take precautions like walking on the edge of the roadside facing oncoming traffic. “Pedestrians can then see motorists or other road users coming towards them, and they can also see you,” Charles says.

Final word

When in doubt, we drive on the left side of the road in Australia, so it makes sense to walk on the left side of a footpath. Keeping left where practical can help the flow of foot traffic remain smooth and just like a walk in the park.

The post Which side of the footpath should you walk on? appeared first on samove.com.au.

Concerning stats from RAA have revealed that eight in 10 road users don’t know the correct minimum age or speed limits for e-scooters.

With e-scooters and e-bikes becoming a familiar sight on South Australian roads, footpaths and shared paths, they’re a convenient, affordable, fun and increasingly popular transport alternative.

But as more South Australians take to two wheels, the number of related injuries and even deaths is telling a different story.

Dedicated e-scooter laws were introduced in South Australia in July 2025, yet awareness remains dangerously low.

More than eight in 10 road users couldn’t identify the maximum speed limit for e-scooters on footpaths, and 77 per cent were unaware that 16 is the minimum age to legally ride these devices on public roads and footpaths.

SA Police has recorded 39 e-scooter injuries in SA as of early May 2026, including five serious injuries – up from 16 in December 2025.

RAA Senior Manager of Road Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says the findings are a wake-up call.

“RAA is concerned about people buying and riding e-scooters, including parents buying them for their kids, without knowing the laws that exist to protect them,” he says.

“There’s also a cohort of riders flouting the law, causing great risk to themselves and other road users.”

E-bikes and the law

E-bikes are a growing part of this picture, and a growing concern. Many e-bikes now being sold and ridden in South Australia aren’t road-legal as they’re not pedal-assist and the motors don’t cut out at 25km/h. This means they’re legally motorbikes rather than bicycles.

Riders and parents may not realise the device they’ve purchased isn’t legal to be ridden in public, and riding an illegal e-bike carries both legal and safety consequences.

“E-bikes are surging in popularity and we’re seeing more of them on our roads and footpaths every week,” Charles says.

“But a significant number of those bikes are illegal, and many riders have no idea, or are simply disregarding the law.”

What RAA is doing

This month, RAA launched its e-scooter and e-bike safety awareness campaign – Don’t bury your head in the footpath – in a push to close knowledge gaps and make the consequences of dangerous behaviours on e-scooters and e-bikes impossible to ignore.

“E-scooters can be a convenient way for people to get around, but riders need to both know and follow the rules to keep themselves and others safe,” Charles says.

“By riding responsibly, South Australians can enjoy the benefits of e-scooters while keeping our footpaths and roads safe for everyone.”

Launching during National Road Safety Week (17–24 May), the campaign is designed to tackle two problems.  First, many riders are in denial because they’ve never been hurt and don’t believe they will be.

Others simply aren’t across the rules or find it confusing. In all cases, lives are at risk.

“When an illegal e-bike travelling at speed hits a pedestrian on a shared path, the consequences can be devastating,” Charles says.

“This isn’t about discouraging people from riding, it’s about making sure they know what they’re riding and how to ride it safely.”

The campaign covers five key safety areas:

• The difference between legal and illegal e-bikes
• Minimum age requirements for e-scooters
• The heightened risks to children
• Speed limits on footpaths and roads
• Helmet requirements.

RAA’s also convening a roundtable bringing together government, industry, trauma experts and students to help drive meaningful change through the State Government’s review of e-scooter legislation expected later this year.

The post Don’t bury your head in the footpath appeared first on samove.com.au.

Traffic is banked up on Henley Beach Road and you’re crawling slowly towards the city. Finally, there’s a gap and you give a little wave to the car on the side street to let them know they can enter the flow of traffic.

Before you know it, your generous gap-giving gesture has been taken for granted. Two, three, four cars push their way through. So, how many cars should you let in?

Be mindful of merging motorists

According to RAA Senior Manager for Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain, it pays to stop and allow fellow motorists through gaps in traffic.

“Letting a fellow motorist in or out is a simple courtesy,” Charles says.

“If someone lets you in, acknowledge their good gesture. You never know when you’ll be in a similar situation,” he says.

However, while waving motorists through might sound friendly, allowing too many to pass can cause more confusion.

Why? Every driver is different; some might allow one or more vehicles through while others none.

“This type of unpredictability can cause a lot of second-guessing and confusion behind the wheel,” Charles says.

“If you’re unsure if another driver is going to let you in, wait a few moments, make eye contact with them and check for a wave or a similar gesture.”

The one-for-one rule

In situations like this, the one-for-one rule can be applied to help keep traffic moving smoothly and safely in situations when road space is restricted due to roadworks or a roadside breakdown. So, what is one-for-one and how does this method of merging work?

Think of it like a zip merge. When you allow a vehicle to enter the flow of traffic, the vehicle behind yours should follow suit and let the next vehicle enter and so forth.

“That’s provided there’s a safe gap and traffic hasn’t resumed to normal,” Charles adds.

While the one-for-one rule isn’t specified in the Australian Road Rules (motorists aren’t legally obligated to follow it), Charles advises it can be a safer and more predictable way to keep traffic moving when conditions are busy or roadworks restrict traffic lanes while showing a little courtesy to your fellow motorist.

Final word

Along with being alert to motorists merging in your path, watch for ‘Keep Clear’ road markings.

These painted road markings are used to indicate areas where vehicles must not stop or park, particularly at intersections or junctions. These markings are designed to maintain smooth traffic flow and prevent vehicles from blocking access to side roads.

“It’s important to note that these markings aren’t give way signs and do not obligate drivers to allow other vehicles to merge into the traffic stream,” Charles says.

“Instead, ‘Keep Clear’ road markings are intended to allow vehicles to turn into or out of a road in situations where it would be difficult because of queued traffic.

“Once traffic on the continuing road starts to move then drivers on the side road must wait for a suitable gap in the traffic unless they get waved into the road.”

The post Poll: How many cars do you let in? appeared first on samove.com.au.

Chances are those legends in the yellow van are already on their way but, until then, do you have a moral responsibility to stop and help a motorist broken down on the side of the road?

According to RAA Senior Manager for Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain, stopping to help is courteous but comes with a safety warning.

“When you’ve broken down, it can be a lonely, desolate experience as you watch others driving past and, of course, it can be highly dangerous,” Charles says.

How to help safely

You’re driving along Marion Road and see a vehicle with its hazard lights on and the bonnet up. You want to stop to see if you can help. Here’s how to assist safely.

1. Slow down and, if it’s safe, park in a place that’s out of the path of traffic and put on your hazard lights.
2. Check it’s safe to leave the vehicle. If you’re by yourself, lock your car when you get out. If you have passengers, get them to lock the doors for their own safety.
3. Never stand between the broken-down vehicle and passing or oncoming traffic.
4. Always face oncoming traffic so you can see approaching vehicles.
5. If the vehicle breakdown appears staged, stop away from the scene and report it to police.

Final word

Whether you’re a good Samaritan on the streets or drive past without stopping, the choice to render assistance is entirely yours. That said, stopping to check on someone’s welfare or simply making sure roadside assistance is on the way can be particularly helpful for someone who genuinely needs help.

“If you’ve been in that situation, especially in remote areas, and someone has stopped to check on your welfare or render assistance, it restores your faith in human nature,” Charles says.

“But more importantly, stopping could be the difference between life and death.”

The post POLL: Do you stop to help a fellow motorist? appeared first on samove.com.au.

Most drivers aren’t bothered by car park space invaders, according to a 2025 sa move poll.

We asked you, our readers, how you react when other drivers park right next to your car, even though plenty of other spaces are available.

The results are in, with a whopping 6255 responses to the poll.

The results

What you said

Many people mentioned the fear of having their car dented or scratched by careless drivers or passengers.

One motorist said: “My car has been dinged three times by the vehicle next to mine and none of the people left a note.”

Other sa move readers explained that access becomes difficult when another vehicle is too close.

“Today’s larger cars make it harder to fully open the door, so at my age it’s not as easy getting in and out,” a motorist said.

Many readers said their reaction depended on how well the neighbouring car was parked.

A motorist said: “As long as they’ve parked properly and they’re not too close, then it doesn’t worry me.”

Two other drivers summed up the majority of responses, saying “It’s a minor issue in life” and “Life’s too short to stress over small things”.

What we’ve learnt

Let’s face it. We all come across some pretty ordinary parkers when we’re out and about. But, as RAA’s Senior Manager of Road Safety and Infrastructure, Charles Mountain, says, the only thing we can do as drivers is to set a good example by parking in the middle of the bay, parallel with the lines, and hopefully others will follow.

“Just as we can’t choose our neighbours, we can’t control whether someone parks next to us,” Charles says.

“But provided careless drivers don’t damage our cars, and we can get in and out of our cars, perhaps life is too short to stress about such things.”

The post Space invaders? Most say ‘meh’ appeared first on samove.com.au.

Vehicle damage while parked was the most common reason for making a car insurance claim in 2024-25, RAA Insurance data revealed. But what other reasons made the list?

Parking prangs topped the list for the most car insurance claims in the last financial year, followed by windscreen damage and hitting fixed objects, according to RAA Insurance data.

Of the more than 55,000 claims received by RAA Insurance in 2024-25, almost one in five were for vehicles damaged while parked in places like car parks, along roads and in driveways.

RAA Insurance spokesperson Jess Lyons says parking prangs were the leading cause of car claims in four out of the past five financial years.

“There’s not much worse than returning to your car in a busy car park to find it’s been damaged by someone else,” Jess says.

“We’d all like to think our vehicle is safe once it’s stationary, but the reality is these incidents are occurring every day.”

To try and protect your car, consider leaving the vehicle parked in a quieter area of a car park or where there’s a bit more space. At home, park in your driveway instead of on the road, if possible.

The other top claims

Windscreen damage accounted for 17 per cent of claims RAA received in the 2024-25 financial year.

A small scratch can turn into a big problem if it isn’t repaired promptly. As temperatures change or you drive over bumps, glass can swell, expand and then contract.

This may cause the crack and chip to spread, and you could potentially have to replace the whole windscreen instead of just repairing the minor damage.

Hitting animals was sixth on the list, accounting for six per cent of claims. However, RAA Insurance data revealed that animal collisions jumped by 54 per cent compared to two years ago, due to an increase in motorists hitting kangaroos.

RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says drivers need to be vigilant and aware of the risk of kangaroo collisions.

“Kangaroos in particular are unpredictable creatures that can seemingly come out of nowhere and pose a significant safety risk,” Charles says.

“They can do a lot of damage, so make sure you’re aware of animals near the road.”

Allianz South Australia Insurance Limited ABN 14 007 872 602 AFSL 232525 (Allianz SA) is the insurer and Royal Automobile Association of South Australia Limited ACN 677 371 274 (RAA) issues this under binder from Allianz SA. RAA do not provide any advice based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions, and underwriting criteria apply. Before making a decision about this insurance, please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Supplementary PDS (if applicable) available with the Target Market Determination (TMD) at raa.com.au.

The post The most common crash claims appeared first on samove.com.au.

With motorists likely annoyed by high fuel prices in recent weeks, here’s how not to add to their annoyance when refuelling.

While a sa move poll last November revealed some of your biggest petrol station pet peeves, there are another five ways you might be adding fuel to the fire without realising.

1. Stretching the hose across your car to fill up

Efficient or inconsiderate? The time-saving hack of stretching the hose across your car because your fuel filler is on the other side of the vehicle might be an ingenuous way to skip the queue.

Unfortunately, at most petrol stations it’s likely to annoy motorists patiently waiting their turn at the bowser. What’s more, pulling the fuel hose across your vehicle may damage the paint.

To avoid the frustration of other motorists, and your own should the hose scratch your ride, try to pull up at the pump on the same side as your fuel filler when possible.

2. Cleaning your entire windscreen while others wait

The pump isn’t the place to perfect your squeegee skills; however, well done, you must have watched our video on how to squeegee streak-free. Instead of holding up the queue behind you, thoroughly clean your windscreen at home before hitting the road.

If you really need to wash your windscreen at the petrol station, move your car to a parking bay and wash it there instead. That said, if nobody is waiting to fuel up behind you, give your windscreen a good scrub.

Why? If your dirty windscreen obstructs your view of the road, you can be fined $228 and a $105 Victims of Crime Levy. Best petrol station protocol is to put your fuel in your car, pay and leave as soon as you can.

3. Taking ages to drive off after paying

Whether a quick text or phone call, using your mobile phone when returning to your car at the bowser after paying isn’t the best idea.

When returning to your car, get in and your fasten seat belt and move away from the pumps. If you want to check your phone, park elsewhere away from the pump area.

In Australia, it’s illegal to hold a mobile phone in your hand or have it resting on any part of your body, such as your lap, when driving. This rule also applies when your car is stopped in traffic, or in this instance, in a petrol station with the engine running.

The phone does not need to be turned on or in use for it to be an offence.  You can be fined $573, a $105 Victims of Crime levy and three demerit points for this.

RAA Senior Manager for Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says phones should not be used while refuelling.

“The engine must be turned off as well,” he adds. “If you want to check your phone then move away from the bowser area and park, which means out of gear and parking brake applied.”

Aside from being unsafe, leisurely using your phone or taking longer than usual to leave the bowser is inconsiderable to other motorists queuing behind you. Remember, the fuel bowser isn’t a parking bay.

4. You speed and don’t give way to pedestrians

They’re officially known as road rules, but did you know some of these rules still apply when you’re, you guessed it, not on the road? For instance, driving through a petrol station.

According to Charles, if there’s no sign posted speed limit at a petrol station, stick to under 10km/h.

“Petrol stations can be risky for road users because they’re pedestrian hot spots and store large amounts of hazardous and flammable substances,” Charles says.

Giving way to pedestrians and cyclists is an important rule that can get forgotten when you’re in a rush. Always keep an eye on your surroundings, particularly people coming out of the station after paying and on footpaths between pumps.

5. Panic buying and filling unapproved containers

Before you jump in the car and head for the nearest servo, we hope you’ve managed to reach the end of this article for a very important public service announcement. There’s absolutely no need for a repeat of the toilet paper saga. RAA advises motorists not to panic buy fuel.

RAA Fuel Expert Peter Nattrass says if you’re looking for the cheapest fuel prices, the best place to start is the RAA app.

“But please, if you see queuing out onto a road, drive on by as you will find a convenient supply elsewhere,” Peter says.

Filling up approved containers and hoarding them at home is also not advised.

In Australia, you can legally carry up to 250 litres of fuel in approved containers for personal use.

Plastic approved containers have a regulated service life of five years with the manufacture date moulded into the plastic. Using older containers is considered non‑compliant and can increase the risk of leaks or ruptures.

Another reason not to stockpile fuel is fuel degrades over time, meaning it can expire or ‘go off’.

“How fast fuel expires depends on the type and storage conditions,” Peter says.

Our advice? If you’re going to fill up approved containers with fuel, make sure you use them to avoid wasting fuel and your money.

The post Fuel up without frustrating fellow motorists appeared first on samove.com.au.

In November 2025, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) began testing American-style ‘pick-up’ trucks, examining crash-avoidance systems on these large vehicles.

It won’t stop there either, with tighter rules coming into force in 2029, which will put these utes under tougher scrutiny. We examine how.

Why ANCAP is testing big utes

Aussies’ love for utes shows no sign of ending. Currently, the Ford Ranger is Australia’s highest-selling vehicle, with the Toyota HiLux another consistently strong sales performer.

In recent years, pick-up trucks, such as the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, Dodge RAM, and Toyota Tundra have also become more popular in Australia.

The size of these vehicles – some of which can weigh more than 2500kg – has raised serious safety concerns for occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.

In response, ANCAP now assesses the collision-avoidance safety systems for large utilities and their ability to detect and avoid crashes involving vulnerable road users. Vehicles are given an overall safety rating for collision avoidance.

• Platinum: 80-100 per cent
• Gold: 60-79 per cent
• Silver: 40-59 per cent
• Bronze: 20-39 per cent
• Not recommended: 0-19 per cent

This testing is critical, because according to ANCAP’s European counterpart, Euro NCAP, large pick-up trucks pose a far greater risk to other road users than smaller vehicles.

What are the new rules?

In January 2029, new vehicle safety regulations will be introduced, which could force manufacturers to redesign some of their larger vehicles. ANCAP will develop the regulations in conjunction with Euro NCAP.

ANCAP will penalise vehicles with poor forward visibility; this means vehicles with high, vision-obscuring front-end designs will need to be revamped to achieve a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The new protocols will also focus on direct vision, which is what drivers can see through vehicle windows, rather than cameras and digital mirrors. As a result, vehicles with thick A-pillars, high bonnets and large rear-view mirrors that block drivers’ view will be penalised.

This may have flow-on effects for organisations that mandate a five-star ANCAP safety rating for all vehicles in their fleets.

RAA’s Principal Advisor of Energy and Future Mobility, Peter Nattrass, welcomes the proposed new regulations.

“RAA supports measures to improve safety for vulnerable road users, who are overrepresented in deaths and serious injuries on South Australian roads,” Peter says.

“This year, we’ve already seen three pedestrian fatalities involving large vehicles, and we welcome these regulations aimed at improving driver visibility and enhancing collision avoidance systems.”

The post New ANCAP rules to boost ute safety appeared first on samove.com.au.