Driving in Australia
It's Christmas Time, There's No Need To Be Afraid….
Yep, a great line from a mega hit of the 1980’s. It’s also valid for you as you consider the fact that the Christmas holidays are upon us and it’s looking like a drive for a holiday is on the cards. But you’re hesitant, nervous, maybe even a bit afraid of taking the chariot out. Here’s a small checklist that may help you get through the Christmas yips…
Tyres: these round, rubbery, bits are oft neglected and to use a Bush-ism, misunderestimated in how important they are. There’s two crucial factors at play when it comes to tyres and they’re interlinked: tyre pressure and tyre age. On the side of your tyre will be numbers that will look something like: 225/55/17. These numbers indicate the size of the tyre and the wheel to which it’s fitted. Each tyre will need to be inflated to a proper pressure to ensure that the 225 (width of the tyre) is gripping as much of the road surface, wet or dry or gravelly, as possible. That correct tyre pressure also means that the 55 (height of the tyre’s sidewall in relation to its width) can flex properly and work with the width of the tread.
By having the right tyre pressure, you’ll minimise the stress on the rubber from being under or over inflated and, to a point, this is where the age factor comes in. Again, this info is built into the sidewall and there’s schools of thought that say that after a certain period, tyres should be replaced, regardless, due to the rubber deteriorating to a point where a lesser impact than a new tyre can handle will fracture it. There’s also the grip factor to consider, where a newer and more flexible tyre will hang on more than an older, dried out rubber construction. Bridgestone provided this link: http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/passenger/care/age.aspx
Fluids: It’s absolute vital for we humans to have water and it’s the same for our cars, they need fluids too and not just for the radiator. Engine oil, wiper fluid, gearbox and possibly even differential fluid need to be at certain levels for your car to be at its best. Apart from the radiator, which uses a series of vanes to exchange heat for cooler air, engine oil is probably as important for not just lubricating the internals (like a good vino) but assists in heat management by doing so. 
Metal on metal inside an engine is not a good thing and with lower than specified oil levels, there’s less oil being spread around to do the job that a normal level will do. Therefore there’s more change of higher levels of friction and heat.
Wiper fluid is important in keeping the front view as unobscured as possible. Daily driving exposes the screen to dirt, soot, moisture and more and a proper mix of wiper fluid will assist in keeping your windscreen as clean as possible and will help in reducing glare and light scatter. Gearboxes and “diffs” tend to be sealed units nowadays, with no real scope for self maintenance. However, if you do have a car that has access, it doesn’t hurt to get these levels checked, for the same reason as the engine.
Interior: Keeping the interior clean not only extends the life of the materials inside, it also stops items like cans or cups rolling around and possibly becoming stuck under the brake or accelerator pedal. 
If you’re a smoker, be aware that the smoke will settle on the dash and coat the inside of the windscreen, which can also obscure your forward vision. There’s plenty of products that will help clean the glass and there’s nothing wrong with a scented air freshener to give the car (and you!) some extra pep.
Fuel: This one’s not always as clear cut as it could be. Certain car engines are engineered and tuned to run on a particular type of unleaded for maximum performance and economy. Let’s say you’ve got a car that has, on the fuel lid flap, 98RON only. RON or Research Octane Number indicates the level of resistance to “detonation”. The higher the number, the more finely tuned an engine can be to take advantage of the chemical makeup of that fuel, especially with today’s computer controlled ignition systems. Click here for more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating
Many cars, like Holden’s Commodore, will be able to utilise petrol from anywhere from 91 to 98. A car tuned to run on 98 and fed only 91 will not be able to produce the amount of kilowatts and torque it should and will struggle to deliver a driving experience without detonation or pinging or knocking as it’s also known. Your vehicle’s handbook will also have this information. Diesel cars are generally easier to deal with as, for most production cars, there’s only one kind of diesel to worry about. However, some cars may require a diesel with a specified sulphur level; this is to do with the emissions system the vehicle has, and by using the specified diesel, will not only not clog your car’s system, it will reduce emissions.
And as for you, dear driver, you can assist in making your journey as trouble free as possible by doing a few simple things too. Drive to the conditions, use indicators and headlights (check these before starting any trip, as well), take breaks and make use of the Driver Survivor stops. Drink plenty of water (staying hydrated helps keep a driver’s alertness level up), give other traffic plenty of room and always do a visual check on your car before commencing any journey. Oh, and absolutely do NOT drink and drive, nor is it wise to consider a long drive if you’ve had a “big night”.
Have a safe Christmas drive and, remember, there’s no need to be afraid.
Driving Home For Christmas (And Surviving)
Driving Home For Christmas (And Surviving)
“Driving in my car, driving home for Christmas…” Hands up if you’ve had this one piped at you recently on the radio or through the store sound system. At least it’s one of the least toe-curlingly cringe-worthy Christmas ditties that get hauled onto the playlist at this time of year (unlike “Let It Snow”, “It’s Lovely Weather For A Sleigh Ride Together With You” and other tracks that are singularly inappropriate when it’s sweltering and the streets are full of sweaty people in sunnies; just don’t get me started… rant over). At least this one raises a point and talks about a bit of what really goes on – long-haul driving to visit the rellies and crowded roads where you’re “top to toe in tailbacks” and get “red lights on the run”.
It can be a bit of a nightmare, trying to load the kids in the car and head off on a long drive interstate to the home of whoever is hosting the family Christmas this year. Haven’t we all been there and done that, either when we were kids or when we got kids of our own.
To make sure that you arrive in one peace and reasonably sane, it pays to plan ahead. To help you with this process, here’s a few handy hints that will get you through that 8+-hour haul.
- Be prepared to take the trip in two bites. If the trip requires more than 12 hours of driving, it could be wisest for everybody’s safety and sanity to spread it over two days. This may mean a stopover at a camping ground or motor inn unit in some obscure little town so everybody can sleep. Attempting to have the entire family sleeping in the car is probably not going to work unless you have a small family and a large car. The only time that I’ve managed to get a decent sleep in the car when accompanied by the family was when (a) both the children were under 10, (b) we owned a van and (c) my husband slept underneath the van. If your trip is going to take three or more days of travel, consider flying instead of driving unless you’re really keen on driving and have a very tolerant family.
- Allow for breaks. And we don’t just mean a quick whip into the dunny when you’re stopping to refuel. It’s better for your back and for your alertness (and will tire the kids out more quickly) if you actually get out and move around a bit.
- Share the driving. If you have more than one driver in the family, then make sure that everyone gets a turn. This includes the L-plater, who could probably do with the experience of driving at night. Don’t forget to pack the L plate and/or the P plate if applicable.
- Audiobooks are a wonderful way of passing the time – possibly better than music in some circumstances (might not be the best in very busy traffic, as they may distract the driver, especially if you’ve got to the big showdown between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort just as you negotiate that spaghetti junction). On the whole, children’s stories are a lot easier for adults to tolerate than cheesy children’s songs. If the worst comes to the worst and you really can’t agree on the book or the music, get separate devices and headphones for individuals – but not all the time. Learning to share and tolerate each other’s tastes is an important life lesson. You may want a session where you pre-load your MP3 player, iPod or phone with a playlist for the journey where every family member makes a contribution.
- Have some time when the music isn’t playing and use this for old-fashioned “quality time” conversation, telling Dad jokes and playing silly story-telling games. Or singing.
- Choose food and drink wisely. It’s best to be flexible here and pick food that can be eaten in the car if needed or taken out as picnic food – it’s all very well to plan a nice picnic where you make your own filled rolls from the ingredients in the esky but this is horribly fiddly and messy if a heavy downpour coincides with your planned lunch break. Beware of too many drive-through takeaways, as all the additives, caffeine and sugar in the soft drinks and/or food, as these will make everyone more frazzled and energetic. They also get pretty pricey if you do it every time. Bring your own in lunchboxes or have a “supermarket special challenge” where you set a dollar limit and see what you can find in the nearest supermarket. Stick to water for the kids (and possibly for the driver), as this doesn’t make your upholstery sticky when it gets spilled. Freezing a bottle of water the night before helps the water stay cold; adding a splash of herbal tea (e.g. peppermint or one of the fruity ones) makes it a bit “special” for the kids. Don’t overdo the water or you’ll have billions of toilet stops, but don’t underdo it either.
- Swap positions around. This means the passengers as well as the drivers. This is more feasible if your children are in the booster seat stage or older but is a bit of a hassle in the case of a more substantial baby or toddler seat. Possibly have some sort of competition (which the parents rig to ensure that everyone gets a turn at winning) with the winner getting the most coveted seat.
Aagh, now I’ve got an ear worm and can’t get that Chris Rea song out of my head.
Safe and happy driving,
Megan
Dunny Doors, Beemers, Pugs And Fezzas
The conversation didn’t go quite like this:
“Oh, is that black BMW yours? I didn’t recognize it at first and thought it was my brother’s Subaru. Is it new? I thought the only one of us with a BMW was Annie.”
“Annie doesn’t have a BMW. That’s her daughter’s car. Annie’s got the Mercedes-Benz.”
“How long have you had the BMW?”
“Actually, it’s my husband’s little baby. I usually use the little Peugeot – it doesn’t use as much petrol.”
“Still a European car, though!”
The conversation actually went like this:
“Oh, is that black beemer yours? I didn’t recognize it at first and thought it was my brother’s Subie. Is it new? I thought the only one of us with a beemer was Annie.”
“Annie doesn’t have a beemer. That’s her daughter’s car. Annie’s got the Murk.”
“How long have you had the beemer?”
“Actually, it’s my husband’s little baby. I usually use the little Pug – it doesn’t use as much juice.”
“Still a European car, though!”
They say that Australians are notorious for giving nicknames to everything up to and including God Almighty (Well, who do you think the Hughie is in in the traditional “Send her down, Hughie!” response to a shower of rain on an Outback farm?). So it’s not all that surprising that we nickname our cars as well. Here, I’m not talking about the nicknames for the individual cars (that’s been covered in another post ) Instead, I’m talking about nicknames for entire marks.
This is a ute. Not a pickup. Not a truck. Ute. Got it?
The most widespread nickname for a type of car is one that we use so often that we don’t realise that it’s a nickname: ute . This is short for “utility vehicle”, known to drivers outside the Antipodes as a pickup truck or just a pickup. Mention utes to an outsider and you’ll get a blank look that often puzzles you. It’s as if that foreigner doesn’t know a basic English word like “banana”.
Of course it doesn’t stop there. Everything from a high-end Lambo to a humble Dunny Door gets a nickname. There are no rules. Except the possible rule that the more upmarket the car, the more likely it is to get a nickname.
For the benefit of those who are new to Aussie roads, here is a quick glossary so you can make sense of what your co-workers are talking about when one of them starts to skite (brag) about their new wheels (car).
Beemer (also spelled Bimmer by those with a broader accent): BMW
Bomb-a-Door: Holden Commodore
Bug: VW Beetle (OK, this nickname is international, like the Beetle itself.)
Commode: Holden Commodore (you might actually start to think that Holdens are rather common over here for some reason!)
Disco: Landrover Discovery
Dunny Door: Holden Commodore. (I see that brow crinkling in bewilderment Do I need to explain what a dunny is? Apparently, I do. It’s a toilet, especially one that lives in its own little shed.)
Evo: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Fezza: Ferrarri
Fridge: Any large white van.
Henry: Ford (as in Henry Ford)
Lambo: Lamborghini
Landy: Land Rover
Lanky: Toyota Landcruiser
Murk: Mercedes-Benz
Pug: Peugeot
Rex: Subaru WRX
Roller: Rolls-Royce
Scoobie: Subaru
Subie: Subaru
Veedub: VW
Other nicknames have slightly less currency. They also don’t need much explanation, as most of them are wry variations on recognizable names, such as Ford Exploder or Fungus for Ford Explorer and Focus respectively. Anyone can make these up whenever the like. The rule here is that you have to take the name and turn it into something derogatory, so the Mitsubishi Sigma you’re actually quite fond of becomes a Bits-are-missing Stigma.
It’s the way we show affection without sounding like a bunch of wusses, after all.
If I’ve missed any of the good ones that you’ve heard – either in Australia or overseas – let us know.
Catch ya later and stay out of dings,
Megz
Respectability comes to Uber In Australia. Apparently?
Uber has put the cat amongst the pigeons when it comes to offering a transport service alternative to taxis. Originally founded in 2009, in San Francisco where its headquarters remain, the company quickly spread its wings worldwide.It also quickly garnered a reputation fo being more cost efficient, better on arriving on time and providing a range of vehicles to suit particulars desires. But it also seemed to hover on the fringe of legality, with no seemingly apparent regulations or rules.
In November 2015, the state government of New South Wales appeared to have decided to change that, following a decision by the Australian Capital Territory in October to regulate the ride sharing service.
Part of the issues raised by those against the service was a lack of checks on drivers and the vehicles involved. Insurance, as a result, was also under the spotlight. In NSW,proposed changes involve a licensing fee being brought in, whilst the taxi industry will be compensated forlosing their virtual monopoly. There’s an agreement that no Uber vehicle will stop streetside, unlike a taxi, nor will they be allowed to gather at designated taxi ranks.
The reforms will also lead to tighter control of who can become an Uber driver with those with criminal records banned from obtaining a licence. Uber vehicles will also be required to undergo regular safety inspections.
That’s all presuming the mooted changes actally go ahead. As of November 23, the Premier of New South Wales,Mike Baird, had said that any recommendations by the Point to Point Taskforce, investigating how Uber may work in competition with the taxi industry, have yet to be officially put before Cabinet. Baird said: “What you need to understand is the taxi industry is effectively 6,000 small businesses, they have bought into this industry on the basis of significant upfront investment.”
This comes after a crackdown on the service in late September of 2015, as 40 drivers had their vehicle registrations suspended by the Roads and Maritime Services. If a suspended vehicle is found on the road after 1 October, the vehicle is deemed unregistered and uninsured, with penalties of $637 for each offence, increasing to about $2,200 if heard in court, an RMS spokesman said at the time.
As this is a story in progress, this article will be updated when further information comes to hand.
Level 2, 9 Help Street