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.

Keeping our roads safe is everyone’s responsibility. So, when you see someone behind the wheel putting lives at risk, what would you do – dob them in or ignore their behaviour?

The scenario

You’re driving along Brighton Road minding your own business until a motorist, who likens their red hatchback to a Ferrari, speeds up behind you only to abruptly switch lanes before taking off up Ocean Boulevard. 

What you shouldn’t do

“If only there was a cop sitting at the top of the hill waiting for them,” you think to yourself.

Then again, you always wanted to become a police officer growing up. That’s when you question if you could match their speed and catch up to them with your notebook to record their plate number.

Before reading any further, take note of this: the above is exactly what you shouldn’t do.

If you’ve ever experienced someone driving dangerously – whether speeding like the above scenario or perhaps looking down not-so-discreetly at their mobile phone – your instinct (and the correct one) should be to keep your distance where possible.

According to RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain, one of the biggest mistakes a motorist can make is moving into the path of someone driving recklessly.

“When others drive without care, your best defence is distance, patience, and a clear mind,” Charles says. “In this instance, it’s best to back off.”

What you should do

Road users can report dangerous driving directly to South Australia Police (SAPOL) through their non-urgent police assistance line (131 444.)

From tailgating and running red lights to drink driving and texting, the sooner you report dangerous driving to SAPOL the better.

“Ensure you provide as much information in your report as possible,” Charles advises.

“If you have dashcam footage of the incident, include this as well as it can greatly assist the investigation.”.

Six steps to reporting dangerous driving

1. Observe the driving: record the time, day, date, and location of the incident.

2. Collect details: if possible, write down the registration number of the offending vehicle and a description of the driver.

3. Contact SAPOL: call 131 444 while the incident is occurring. Of course, if you’re driving, make sure you use hands-free or safely pull over if using your mobile phone. You can also use the Traffic Watch online form to report non-urgent, traffic-related incidents that’ve already occurred and don’t require police attendance.

4. Provide witness details: include contact details of any witnesses.

5. Keep records: maintain notes about the incident for your records.

6. The investigation: SAPOL will follow up your complaint and may issue a cautionary phone call or an official warning. In serious cases, they may issue a fine or court summons. Most complaints are handled with a cautionary letter sent to the vehicle’s registered owner, highlighting the incident and the police’s attention to the behaviour.

“If [the person reporting the incident] wants the matter to be formally investigated, they may attend their local police station to provide information and any supporting evidence (i.e. dashcam footage), so the incident can be assessed for further action,” a SAPOL spokesperson tells sa move.

“The information captured through the system helps make South Australian roads safer by assisting police in determining the future allocation of police resources and identifying areas of concern.”

What you should do if you’re a passenger in the car

Witnessing erratic driving can be scary, even more so if you’re sitting in the passenger seat of the offending vehicle.

Charles says a passenger’s silence can be as dangerous as a driver’s recklessness.

“Ask the driver to slow down, stop, or let you out – your safety is worth it,” he says.

The post Would you dob on a driver? appeared first on samove.com.au.

Technology is advancing in leaps and bounds – there are even fully autonomous cars in America and China that can drive with their passengers relaxing in the back seat.

Touchscreens are getting bigger, more complicated, and buttons are disappearing from dashboards.

Has our digital desire gone too far?

From modest beginnings…

The first car with a digital touchscreen was the 1986 Buick Riviera. Far ahead of its time, the green-and-black Graphic Control Centre (or GCC for short) put audio and climate control at drivers’ fingertips.

It also displayed information such as motor readings, brake diagnostics, maintenance reminders and a calendar.  It aimed to “transform a trip to the 7-Eleven into a space odyssey”.

This was the 80’s – a time of revolutionary innovation and vast imagination. Microsoft Windows 1.0 had just been released, NASA’s Space Shuttle orbited the Earth and DNA genetic profiling had been discovered. The future was nigh.

But by 1990, a mere four years later, Buick’s GCC had been discontinued. It was too distracting. Customers complained about taking their eyes off the road and struggling to navigate on-screen menus while driving. Sound familiar?

…to extreme minimalists

By 2021, touchscreens were everywhere: phones, airport check-in terminals and, of course, cars.

That year, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its massive, curved glass display – 1.41 metres of digital dashboard stretching from pillar to pillar – to a round of futuristic applause.

With more computer power than many laptops, the screen controlled everything from audio and navigation to seat comfort, driving modes, climate control and driver monitoring. It even sent birthday reminders and was integrated Microsoft Teams. Touch gestures, voice commands and haptic steering-wheel feedback promised an intuitive, friction-free driving experience.

It felt like science-fiction perfection, and the closest we’d come to the flying cars of Back to the Future II or the Batmobile.

Fast forward to today – the beginning of 2026 – and Mercedes are dialling back on their all-digital interior because it’s too distracting. Customers are complaining about haptic steering-wheel controls and touchscreen-only access to basic functions like volume and climate.

Are buttons better?

Australia’s independent voice on vehicle safety, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (known as ANCAP SAFETY), thinks buttons are better than touchscreens. In fact, from 2026, ANCAP will penalise new vehicles in their safety ratings if essential driving functions are buried in complex touchscreen menus.

ANCAP are calling for car manufacturers to bring back buttons, particularly for critical driver controls like the horn, indicator, hazard lights, windscreen wipers and headlights. ANCAP are not alone, with Euro NCAP introducing similar criteria, reinforcing the global shift back towards physical buttons.

Manufacturers are listening to calls for physical buttons to return. Mercedes-Benz’s Chief Software Officer, Magnus Östberg, has publicly acknowledged that physical controls are often safer and more effective. Meanwhile, Tesla owners can now retrofit their minimalist interiors with aftermarket buttons and knobs at a price.

Why buttons matter

RAA Principal Advisor for Energy and Future Mobility Peter Nattress says distracted driving, as one of the fatal five causes of road crash casualties, takes many forms.

“People understand obvious distractions like texting or scrolling on a mobile phone, eating, drinking or being preoccupied with passengers,” Peter says.

“But because respected manufacturers build these elaborate touchscreen systems into cars, many drivers don’t realise how unsafe they can be.”

An independent study by researchers at Norwegian research company SINTEF used eye-tracking technology to measure how long drivers looked away from the road when using touchscreens. The study found that simple tasks, like adjusting temperature via the touchscreen, caused drivers to divert their gaze for as much as two full seconds. At 60km/h, you travel approximately 33 metres in two seconds – about the length of six vehicles.

Physical buttons fall back on muscle memory, the brain’s ability to perform familiar actions without conscious thought. Drivers learn the location, shape and resistance of controls over time, allowing them to adjust volume, demist a windscreen or activate indicators without looking away from the road.

Buttons also provide immediate feedback through movement and resistance, work in different lighting situations and while wearing gloves. Critical functions can be accessed in a single action and, in safety-critical moments, prompt and confident reactions matter.

Peter says good design is about reducing the driver’s cognitive load so they can remain focused on their surroundings.

“As drivers, we are increasingly surrounded by potential temptations to steal our attention away from the task at hand: driving,” Peter says.

“Technology should complement, not compete for the driver’s attention.

“The best systems are the ones where drivers don’t even know that they are being assisted by the car to keep everyone safe.”

The evolution of in-car technology shows progress isn’t always about adding more screens. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to stop – and maybe even reverting back to basics.

As manufacturers rethink design and safety bodies push for change, the humble button may yet prove that the smartest technology is the kind that lets drivers focus on driving.

The post Why buttons are back appeared first on samove.com.au.

Kicking a footy with your left foot might be considered skilful, but the same can’t be said for driving with your left foot. Here’s why.

Is it legal?   

While it’s not actually illegal to use your left foot to accelerate and brake on roads in Australia, there are safety risks to ambidextrous driving. Some drivers like to use their left foot for braking and their right foot to operate the accelerator, but this technique isn’t recommended when driving on public roads.

Is it safe?

While you can’t be fined specifically for driving with your left foot, you are more at risk of losing proper control of the vehicle. In fact, you can be fined $228, plus a $105 Victims of Crime Levy for this offence.

Cars are primarily designed to be driven with the right foot operating either the accelerator or brake. According to RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain, using the left foot to brake and accelerate can potentially lead to pedal confusion.

“That’s why it’s advised to only use the right foot for operating the accelerator and brake when you’re driving on public roads,” Charles says.

“The reason for using your right foot is when the foot is removed from the accelerator in order to brake, it’s not possible to inadvertently accelerate.

“Although there have been examples of this where drivers haven’t realised which pedal they were pressing.”

Exceptions to the unwritten rule

If you’ve ever gone from driving an automatic vehicle to a car with a manual transmission, then you know that your left foot is an essential part of driving because it has to be used in conjunction with the accelerator when changing gears and the brake pedal when stopping.

But here’s where your left foot can get you in trouble. When your left foot applies pressure on the clutch pedal without fully pressing it down, you’re likely ‘riding the clutch’, which can reduce the life of your clutch.

To avoid the chances of this happening, rest your left foot on the footrest (also known as the dead pedal), typically found to the left of the clutch in a manual, until you need to use your foot to change gears.

Did you know using the left foot to brake is also common trackside? Most professional race car drivers use their left foot to brake so they can quickly apply more force to the brake pedal, which is crucial for maintaining control when travelling at high speeds around corners.

That said, most of us aren’t professional race car drivers, and public roads certainly aren’t racetracks. This is when it’s best to keep your left foot firmly planted on the footrest, leaving your right foot to do the work.

Final word

“Unless you’re driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, driving using your left foot isn’t required, nor is it safe, and should definitely not be practised on public roads,” Charles says.

As for using both feet interchangeably at the pedals, that’s an entirely different story – literally. Check out our article on whether it’s a good idea to use both feet when driving an automatic.

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