Horizons October/November 2020

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

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FOREST RUSH On the trail to adventure in WA’s far south

The ins and outs of roundabouts Could electric car incentives work here?

What your body goes through in a crash

10 best things to do in the Perth Hills

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The power of membership

It’s easier to call RAC Batteries

Emergency or not, we can help.

Call 13 11 11 or visit rac.com.au/batteries *MRB 723. Terms and conditions apply.

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Trust the experts and save on your service this spring Members save

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HORIZONS

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Present this voucher when you drop off your car, and we’ll give you $40 off your minor, major or logbook service.

To book call 1300 134 642 or visit rac.com.au/as *With the exception of RAC member 10% discount, this offer is not to be used with any other offer, including in instances of customer supplied parts. Valid at our 9 metro centres only, not valid with the mobile mechanic. RAC 10% member discount applies to all labour costs performed by the RAC. Simply call to request additional vouchers for other members in your household. Offer valid for car services conducted before the 31 January 2021. Discount voucher to be presented at time of service. MRB 935.

Book at any of our nine Auto Services centres Balcatta

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Editor Vanessa Pogorelic Graphic Designer Renee Smith

Your RAC magazine Oct/Nov 2020

Advertising Gail Raj (WA only) Tel. 08 9388 7844 gail@mediatonic.com.au Lauren Casalini Tel. 03 8520 6444 laurencasalini@hardiegrant.com Horizons® Published by RAC WA Cover photo Pemberton Cover photographer @mayhem85 via Instagram

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WA’s new museum Discover our greatest stories and treasures

CAB audited as at March 2020 is 617,916 households

Our plastic wrapper is biodegradable

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Member lounge People, places and offers

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Member benefits RAC members save every day

Australia Post ISSN No 0810 8285.

The opinions contained in this publication may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees. Advertisements in Horizons are the responsibility of the advertiser. No person should act or rely upon such opinions or advice and RAC accepts no liability for them. Any rewards or rights provided to a member cannot be transferred, assigned, sold or redeemed for cash. Inclusion of a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC.

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Contact

 facebook.com/RACWA  @racwa rac.com.au  editor@rac.com.au For deaf, hearing or speech impaired members: Emergency Roadside Assistance SMS number 0434 182 877 All queries relayservice.gov.au For more contact details, see page 73.

Roadside Assistance, Battery Services

Vehicle Condition Appraisals

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1300 797 078

Membership, Motoring Advice, Insurance, Finance, Travel, Touring, Security Services

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RAC Auto Services

1300 135 667 RAC Tyres

1300 651 042 Corporate Enquiries

9436 4111

October-November 2020 / Horizons

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President’s message Saving lives in regional WA

Member feedback Your views and opinions

Snapshot News from RAC

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Vehicle crashes The impact to the human body

Budget submission Kick-starting WA’s economy

Roundabouts The ins and outs

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Switching to electric Incentivising EV uptake

Electic getarounds Rules for personal mobility devices

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Motor news Everything on wheels

Test drive Putting new cars to the test

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Get active in the Pemberton region ELMEHT 5

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Car doctor Your questions answered

Little Legends Road safety puzzle for kids

The 10 best 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Things to do in the Perth Hills :srewsnA Helmet, Wheels, Crossing, Road. Magic word: Scooter

Horizons / October-November 2020

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Doing more for WA and for you That’s the power of membership

Road safety Your membership is helping to create a better WA - from young driver education, to road safety and sustainability initiatives, and the sponsorship of the RAC Rescue helicopters. And we give back to you with discounts on RAC products and services, plus great everyday savings.

RABRPW0008 Road Safety

Everyday savings

Find out more at rac.com.au/power Member Benefit Terms and Conditions apply. The RAC Rescue helicopters are sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

YO U R R A C

President’s message Saving 2000 lives and serious injuries in regional WA In response to COVID-19 and the current difficult personal and economic times, governments are focusing on projects that protect livelihoods and create jobs. This is crucial to our post-pandemic recovery. Equally crucial is that we prioritise projects which not only boost our economy, but which also provide long term benefit for our communities.

Investing in regional road upgrades is a prime example.

In a previous edition of Horizons, I spoke of the enormous benefits of the Regional Road Safety package proposed by the State Government which would deliver upgrades across 17,000 kilometres of WA’s regional road network.

More than 3,200 people were killed and seriously injured on our regional roads between 2014 and 2018. Nearly 70 per cent of serious crashes in regional

WA involve cars running off the road or drifting into the path of oncoming traffic.

On high-speed regional roads, a simple mistake can have fatal consequences.

It is very pleasing to see the State and Federal Governments have agreed to jointly fund the first year of the program. Approximately 1,400 kilometres of roads on 20 regional routes will undergo vital upgrades, such as sealing, widening and installation of audiotactile line markings.

This is a very encouraging first step and a commitment to fully fund and deliver the remaining 16,000 kilometres of upgrades is still urgently needed. The State Government estimates that when fully completed, more than 2,100 serious crashes would be prevented — reducing deaths and serious injuries in regional WA by more than 60 per cent.

The full $900 million package will significantly reduce the financial burden of road trauma, which is estimated to cost the WA economy as much as $2 billion a year. It will also create thousands of jobs for our State.

The lives of far too many Western Australians remain at risk and RAC will continue to champion this cause until a commitment to rollout this lifesaving, job creating stimulus package, in full, is secured.

RAC President

Jacqueline Ronchi RAC Council Club Patron His Excellency the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia President Jacqueline Ronchi Senior Vice President Professor Ross Dowling AM Vice President John Driscoll Members of Council Leanne Bishop Allan Blagaich Freda Crucitti Jill Darby Tony Evans Dalton Gooding Alden Halse Brian Hanson Emmerson Richardson Julie Wadley

Jacqueline Ronchi

Jim Walker

RAC President

Horizons / October-November 2020

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YO U R R A C

Member feedback

@racwa editor@rac.com.au Sign up to receive RAC’s For the Better enews rac.com.au/racenews

Winning feedback

Cycling revival It is good that people are embracing exercise and that cycling has seen an uplift in participation (Horizons, August/ September). As a reminder to all road users, some of these newer cyclists will not have the years of experience needed to be safe.

The warmer weather is nearly upon us, and if families are getting out and about on these new bikes, there may be more young riders and inexperienced cyclists enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Please keep an eye out, anticipate the unexpected and be prepared to stop. David Price

Rollover survivor Reading the article ‘A Life of Rescue’ (Horizons, August/September) brought back the memory of my accident in Dwellingup in June on the Murray Valley downhill trails. I was descending a dirt road to collect my husband when I hit a pothole. Our ute went airborne and rolled several times. The ambulance and RAC Rescue helicopter were called and the skill of the pilot landing in a clearing in dense bushland nearby made it possible for the ambulance to transport me to the helicopter and on to Royal Perth Hospital. I consider myself to be unbelievably lucky not to have received any serious cuts and fractures. I would like to give my very warm thanks and gratitude to all the RAC air crew. I am so amazingly grateful that you are there for everyone. Margaret Seymour

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Still Holden on The top photo shows two newlyweds on the evening of the 2nd of April 1960 leaving the wedding reception for our honeymoon. The car - bought two years before our wedding was my first Holden, a 1951 48-215 bought from Sydney Atkinsons and I think it had done 80,000 miles. It was a black ‘Holden Special’ with two accessories, a chrome bonnet emblem and two reflector fins on the rear mudguards that complimented the single taillight of the first Australian-made Holden model, the 48-215 or sometimes known as the FX. We payed the asking price, I think about 540 pounds (30 weekly pays) but did ask that they have the roof of the car painted pale blue which they did. Thank you RAC for being with us during our many thousands of kilometres of motoring throughout Western Australia. Graeme and Una Byass

October-November 2020 / Horizons

YO U R R A C

115 years of saving the day July this year marked RAC’s 115th birthday.

Thanks for sharing some of your RAC memories with us on Facebook: Been saved by the RAC many times. I can remember many years ago, my daughter, husband and small baby were travelling from Albany to Perth one night. Their car broke down nearing Perth. The fellow who came to their rescue first called into his home and collected some warm milk for the baby and a thermos of tea for the parents. Now that was certainly going beyond his job description! Never knew his name, but what a legend! Keeva Bartsch I can remember when they used motorcycles with sidecars. Tommy Griffiths Happy Birthday RAC. Here’s a photo of my late grandfather working for RAC. Anthony Koomen

The diesel pricing mystery Interesting article in Horizons for those who use petrol (Unravelling the fuel pricing mystery, August/September).

But why is diesel so much dearer than petrol when it is cheaper to produce?

A G Armstrong

A member has asked if there’s a legal limit to how old your car tyres can be.

While there’s no legislation that refers specifically to the maximum age of tyres, older tyres could still render your vehicle unroadworthy due to damage associated with age, such as dry rot and cracking of the rubber. Hardened rubber also has lower grip qualities compared to that of tyres less than five years old. We recommend considering replacing your tyres when they get to between five and seven years of age, regardless of the level of tread left on them.

From RAC: Diesel and petrol are part of the same crude oil refining process, with diesel being produced at a different stage from petrol in the distillation of the crude oil feedstock. As such, diesel is not necessarily cheaper than petrol to produce, and like petrol, is required to adhere to a strict set of environmental and operability standards.

The price of diesel is governed for the most part by international benchmark prices, supply and demand in the local retail market and fluctuations in the value of the Australian dollar. Over the past decade there has been strong growth in demand for diesel both in Australia and in the Asian region. This higher demand has generally put pressure on supplies and led to higher diesel prices.

The same supply and demand issues have not generally occurred for petrol. Additionally, smaller volumes of diesel are sold at retail sites compared with petrol, so the cost of selling each litre of diesel may be higher than for petrol.

Send feedback and win Send us your opinions and feedback via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or email and you could win a year’s Classic Roadside Assistance.

For assistance or more information call 13 17 03 or visit rac.com.au Terms and conditions on page 73. Published letters may be edited for style and length.

While we try to respond to all letters we receive, a response cannot be guaranteed.

Horizons / October-November 2020

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YO U R R A C

News in brief from the RAC and beyond

Car headlights getting smarter and brighter As the technology used in vehicle headlights has become smarter, the light they produce has also become brighter, which, in some instances, can be an issue for other drivers.

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The advantage of these newer headlights can be a much longer and defined beam of light, reduced power draw and better durability.

Where this may fail is when a car travels across a bump and the lights are momentarily raised, which can dazzle the driver of an oncoming car.

Halogens, which were once the most common headlights, are becoming less common in new vehicles as brighter High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights take over. LEDs, which are an even more advanced headlight technology, are also brighter than halogens and use less power.

Given that these headlights can usually be detected from some distance, in this instance, you should focus on the road directly ahead of your vehicle to minimise the effect of any glare from these headlights.

To combat the issue of drivers being dazzled by the brightness of these lights, in Australia, HID and LED headlights are required by the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) to have washers and self-levelling systems which are designed to reduce the chances of drivers in oncoming vehicles being dazzled.

It is possible to purchase and fit brighter aftermarket lamps to vehicles which were not originally equipped with HID or LED lamps.

This can result in vehicles which have lights brighter than 2000 lumens but without the self-levelling features required for this level of light intensity under the ADRs. Vehicles fitted in this way with aftermarket headlights may not be roadworthy.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

YO U R R A C

How to find what you can’t see body heat from an enormous distance to help locate those lost at sea or on land.

The combined skills of the highly trained crews on board the RAC Rescue helicopters have helped save countless lives.

One critical piece of equipment that aides the crew is the Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) camera.

On board both helicopters it provides powerful infrared imaging capabilities that help the crew ‘see in the dark’.

Thermal imaging can also detect

What ever happened to ethanol fuel?

Ethanol blended fuels are not widely available in WA due in part to the distance we are from where ethanol is produced in large quantities, the economics of transporting it to WA, and weak consumer demand for these fuels here.

COVID-19 impacts on travel and social connection We asked members about their experiences travelling around and connecting with their community during COVID-19 restrictions in April, and what might change in the future as a result of these experiences.

The FLIR camera is an essential system that has helped the RAC Rescue crew make sure more people who find themselves in distress can make it home again.

The RAC Rescue helicopters are sponsored

by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

Its higher consumption in the eastern states is partly a result of mandates in NSW and QLD that require all fuel sold there to comprise 6 per cent and 3 per cent biofuels respectively.

E10 may be available from some WA fuel retailers, but we would advise using FuelWatch and calling the site you’re planning to visit to check this.

Driving

42

%

drove or were a passenger in a car five or more days a week during April. This decreased from 77% in January.

Public transport

45

%

were worried taking public transport may impact their health.

In February only 2% identified hygiene as a reason for not using public transport more often.

Working from home

31 2

%

worked from home in April compared to just 5% in January.

This was the average number of days those who worked from home during COVID-19 restrictions would like to continue to do so in future.

If residents of Greater Perth could work from home two days a week it could be equivalent to taking more than 65,000 commuter car trips off the road each day.

Horizons / October-November 2020

Tough new penalties for using a phone while driving Motorists are reminded that penalties for using a mobile phone while driving have increased.

There are now two tiers of penalties: Using a mobile phone, including touching or holding it, to make or receive an audio call - 3 demerit points and a $500 infringement.

Using a mobile phone to create or view a text, social media, mobile app or similar - 4 demerit points and a $1000 infringement.

This applies when you’re driving a vehicle, including when stopped at the lights.

Drivers are only permitted to touch their phone if it’s being used to make or receive an audio call and it’s in a cradle installed in the vehicle. Exceptions apply to drivers of on-demand vehicles.

You may still use a mobile phone as a navigational tool, setting it before you head off and glancing at it to follow directions, provided you don’t touch the phone and it’s mounted in a cradle.

In 2019, 19 per cent of all road fatalities in Western Australia were attributed to inattention, which included mobile phone use, according to the Road Safety Council.

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YO U R R A C

Notice of

Annual general meeting The 115th Annual General Meeting of The Royal Automobile Club of W.A. (Incorporated) (RAC) will be held at: RAC Head Office 832 Wellington Street, West Perth, 7pm on Tuesday 24 November, 2020.

Business 1. To declare the 2020 Annual General Meeting open.

2. To table the Notice of Meeting.

3. To receive apologies.

4. To table and confirm the minutes of the 2019 Annual General Meeting.

5. To table the report of the President.

6. To present for consideration: (a) the financial report of the RAC for the year ended 30 June 2020; and (b) a copy of the auditor’s report on the financial report.

7. To disclose the nature and extent of any material personal interests of Councillors declared.

8. Declaration of election of President and Senior Vice President.

9. Declaration of election of three (3) members to the Council by the Returning Officer.

10. To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution to amend the Rules of The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (Incorporated) (the “Rules”): Resolution 1 That Rule 2.1, Definitions, is amended by inserting the words underlined below: “Entrance Fee means the joining fee (if any) payable by a person for Membership.”

11. To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution to amend the Rules: Resolution 2 That Rule 12.2(b) is amended by deleting the words struck out below and inserting the words underlined: “(b) If a Councillor’s Term is due to expire at the next Annual General Meeting, but the Councillor: (i) is the President Elect or Senior Vice-President Elect;

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(ii) will at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting be a Director National Council Member of the Australian Automobile Association; or (iii) will at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting cease to be the President because their term as President has expired, the Councillor is not required to retire and is deemed re-elected with effect from the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting for a further Term.”

12. To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution to amend the Rules: Resolution 3 That clause 19 is amended by inserting the words underlined below: 19. Notices Method of Service of Notices 19.1

In addition to any other form of service permitted by the Act, Anyany notice required to be given under these Rules or the By-Laws to any Member or person is deemed to be properly and sufficiently given if: (a) personally delivered; (b) sent by pre-paid post to the Member at the Member’s address appearing in the Membership Register as notified from time to time, or such address or registered office of the person as notified to the Council from time to time; (c) published in the Club’s official publication; (d) published in a daily or weekly newspaper published in Perth or in such other publication as the Council may determine;

(e) sent by email to an email address nominated by the Member for the purpose of service of notices on the Member;

(e)(f) given by any other legally permissible means determined by the Council and set out in the By-Laws; or

(f)(g) given by a combination of any two or more methods as set out in rules 19.1(a) to 19.1(e)(f).

19.2 Time of Service of Notice A notice is deemed to have been received by a Member or person if: (a) personally delivered, on the day of delivery; (b) served by pre-paid letter, on the day following that upon which it is posted; (c) given by advertisement, on the day of the publication of the Club’s official publication or newspaper or other publication in which it appears; and (d) served by email, 5 hours after the time sent (as recorded on the device from which the sender sent the email) unless the sender receives an automated message that the email has not been delivered; or (d)(e) sent by any other means, as determined by the Council and set out in the By-Laws.”

20. Questions.

21. Close of Meeting.

By order of the Council: R. Slocombe, RAC Group Chief Executive.

Explanation for Rule Changes The RAC is proposing to make some changes to its Rules.

The amendment to Rule 2.1 is a minor change to the definition of ‘Entrance Fee’ to include the words ‘if any’. Council has resolved not to charge Members an Entrance Fee. The amendment in 12.2(b) is to reflect a change in the constitution of the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) where a Councillor may be appointed as a member of the National Council rather than as a Director of the AAA. The amendments in Rule 19 provide an additional method of providing notice to Members, to include notice by way of email. This amendment provides RAC with flexibility in how the Club provides information to Members and is consistent with contemporary practices.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

YO U R R A C

RAC President & Group CEO

Combined report It is our pleasure to provide the 2019/20 financial year report.

assist members experiencing difficult and unique circumstances.

RAC Group revenue for the year ended 30 June 2020 was $930 million with an overall profit after tax of $27 million. The total net assets of the Group as at 30 June 2020 increased to $916 million.

To acknowledge the exceptional work of our frontline healthcare professionals and first responders, RAC provided priority roadside assistance to support them during a breakdown situation and keep them moving.

During the year RAC continued to support over 1.1 million members in WA through our services and important community and social impact activities to provide a safer, more sustainable and better-connected WA. In line with our values as a purpose-led member organisation, RAC members received $64 million in direct member benefits – the largest year ever.

It is also pleasing to report over 60 per cent of members are using the RAC Member Benefits program, making it one of the most comprehensive initiatives of its kind in WA. In response to the impacts of COVID-19, a range of new measures were introduced during the year, including a dedicated Financial Hardship Team to

At the local level RAC continued to undertake a range of activities focused on driving our community and social impact priorities of safe, sustainable and connected.

These activities include world-leading demonstration projects, such as our automated vehicle trials and the RAC Electric Highway and supporting the life-saving RAC Rescue Helicopter service* which has now flown over 7,600 missions since 2003.

RAC has been active at the grass-roots level, including developing online education resources for our schools, parents and guardians to enable them to continue providing road safety education to students during COVID-19.

RAC engaged in several key state and national activities throughout the year, including making submissions on issues such as government access to vehicle generated data, automated vehicle trials, the National Road Safety Strategy Inquiry and the Infrastructure Australia Audit.

Critically, RAC continued to call out the urgent need for the $900 million Regional Road Safety Package to be funded. If delivered in full, this lifesaving, job creating, stimulus package will save more than 2,000 people from being killed and seriously injured on regional roads, upgrade more than 17,000 kilometres of the regional road network, reduce road trauma in regional WA by 60 per cent, and reduce the annual economic cost of road trauma — currently estimated to cost Western Australia as much as $2 billion each year.

It was pleasing to see $100 million dollars in joint funding from the Australian and Western Australian Governments was secured to deliver the first year of road upgrades.

RAC’s role and responsibilities are clear. We are here to support our members and the WA community.

This cannot be achieved without the wonderful support of RAC members and the dedicated people who work for our organisation.

The recent difficulties have proven the shared strength of all Western Australians. As we continue to build our future together, on behalf of everyone at RAC we would like to say thank you and we look forward to supporting you in the year ahead.

For a copy of the concise annual report visit rac.com.au/annualreport or call 9436 4389. *Sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) the two RAC Rescue helicopters provide vital search and rescue and critical care medical services to the WA community.

Horizons / October-November 2020

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O U R S TAT E

Anatof a my car crash

The human body is simply not built to survive the immense forces exerted during a vehicle crash. Here’s what happens when forces collide inside that hard metal shell.

By Ruth Callaghan

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October-November 2020 / Horizons

O U R S TAT E

When driving at higher speeds, there’s no equation in which a crash is harmless. Physics simply doesn’t work that way. And the impact on the fragile human body inside can be catastrophic.

“Trauma is all about the energy that’s transmitted to a very frail organism – the human being,” says Dr Sudhakar Rao, director of Trauma at Royal Perth Hospital’s State Major Trauma Unit.

Dr Rao has spent 25 years trying to patch up and address the results of road trauma and other emergency situations, and says humans aren’t really designed for anything more than falling from a standing height.

“What I’ve learned over time is that when the trauma is from a car crash where the speed is over 100km per hour, the injuries are not that different from what we see in victims of plane crashes,” he says.

Meet Graham, the human built to survive The gulf between what physics can do in a car crash and how little we are prepared was the starting point for a remarkable road safety campaign out of Victoria, known simply as ‘Meet Graham’.

With a neck nearly as wide as his shoulders, a barrel rib cage, distended knees and legs, and a flat, fleshy face, Graham is no looker.

But the artistic representation models the physical changes humans would need if we were to evolve in a way that would make us better able to survive a car crash.

Developed for Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission to illustrate the vivid truth of crash physics, Graham illustrates how transport systems have evolved faster than we have.

To be sure of surviving a modern car crash, you’d really need a reinforced skull, able to cushion the delicate tissues of the brain.

Fatty facial tissue could help offset the damage caused when the body jerks forward in a crash, hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.

If we had shorter, stumpier necks we might lose our ability to turn our heads, but we would avoid whiplash when a car suddenly ceases moving.

Such evolution is hardly desirable, but the campaign illustrates how vulnerable drivers and passengers really are.

“Once you have a crash above that speed, you are approaching the same kind of injuries, where the spinal cord is torn, major blood vessels are torn, you have head injuries. It doesn’t matter what age you are or what stature, there is no escaping physics at that speed.”

The higher the speed, the greater the injuries, but even a low-speed crash can be deadly.

At 30km/h, which is the speed a braking car might hit a pedestrian, a crash can be fatal about 5 per cent of the time. For a pedestrian struck at 60km/h, the risk of fatality jumps to about 50 per cent.

For those in a car travelling at 60km/h, a side-on collision will be fatal around 40 per cent of the time, and at 90km/h, a head on crash will kill you four times out of five.

RIGHT: Graham, the crash-proof human, from Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission’s Meet Graham road safety campaign.

Horizons / October-November 2020

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O U R S TAT E

RAC general manager of Public Policy and Mobility, Anne Still, says many people simply underestimate the risks to themselves and others.

“A lot of people can easily reconcile the damage that might be done to the body of a vehicle but they don’t give a lot of thought to what those same forces can do to the human body, which is actually very fragile,” she says.

“The fact is that the body is illequipped to deal with the forces that are exerted in a crash and that’s not always appreciated or even considered by some.

“We don’t want it to take being in a crash for people to be conscious of their own and other’s vulnerability when they’re driving.”

Inside the science of a crash Understanding the factors that go into determining whether the crash is fatal, severe or just a terrible mistake where those involved manage to walk away, is complicated.

For a start, you have to consider that there are actually three collisions that happen during a crash.

The first collision occurs when a vehicle hits something, another car perhaps, or a tree or a pole or even a pedestrian.

Depending on what the object is and whether it is also moving — away, or at an angle, or towards the vehicle at speed — influences what happens to those involved.

moving in the same direction and at a similar speed until they are jerked back by seatbelts, slam into inflating airbags, or hit the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield.

Finally, as the shattered body comes to a halt, the third collision takes place – this time inside the body.

“When the trauma is from a car crash where the speed is over 100km per hour, the injuries are not that different from what we see in victims of plane crashes.”

Soft organs, like the spleen and liver, continue to move forward until halted.

They can bruise or tear. The heart can undergo aortic rupture. The brain can receive a blow so immense it ceases to function.

Severity of injuries Dr Rao says trauma teams begin to prepare their response based on the kind of crash and other factors that can make a big difference in the injuries likely to be present.

“If we get told someone’s coming in from a head-on collision, we expect severe injuries,” he says.

“If you have a roll-over, particularly if it has rolled multiple times, you can bet you will have spinal injuries because the person hits the ceiling of the car which is now the floor of the car and it compresses the spine.

“In a T-bone crash it depends on whether the impact is on the passenger compartment, which means high risk of injuries to the torso, chest and abdomen. And in the absence of a curtain airbag, the drivers hit their heads on the B pillar (the central structure) of the car.

“Then we also want to hear about the speed of the crash, were seatbelts used — if they weren’t, we would expect much more severe injuries and the person may have been ejected from the car like a missile.”

If the crash involves a pedestrian or cyclist, even low speeds are risky.

“For a pedestrian, anything over 40km/h would lead to serious injuries to the head, chest and spinal injuries.

And with anything over 60km/h there’s a very high risk of death from the head hitting the road,” Dr Rao says.

In a crash where the car stops suddenly, perhaps by hitting a wall, the kinetic energy produced dissipates rapidly as the car body crumples and bends.

While the vehicle is stopping, kinetic energy will keep the humans inside

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mastersky / Shutterstock.com

The faster that deceleration occurs, the worse things are for the occupants of the vehicle, which is where the second collision comes in.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

After rigorous crash testing, ANCAP awards cars in the Australian market with a safety rating out of 5 stars.

“For cycling, particularly those without helmets, the risk of serious injury or death at speeds above 25km/h or 30km/h rapidly escalates, because you don’t have anything around you to offer protection.”

Dr Rao says non-fatal car crashes can still have a devastating impact on those involved and many people will live but never fully recover.

Understanding the factors that go into determining whether the crash is fatal, severe or just a terrible mistake where those involved manage to walk away, is complicated.

“There are reversible, partly reversible and non-reversible injuries,” he says.

“Spinal cord injury and head injury are permanent and that isn’t likely to change any time soon.

“Then you have other spinal injuries, severe pelvic trauma and lower limb trauma. With these your mobility

Horizons / October-November 2020

changes and that can have a major effect on your independence. You might not be able to do the same job or participate in social activities.

“For every death there about 10 people who are severely injured, who will never regain their normal function, and another 50 who are badly injured who will eventually regain normal function.”

Getting into a safer car The speed, direction and force of a crash are far from the only factors that can change the outcome – a major factor is your choice of car.

The younger a car is the more likely it is to have built-in safety features such as airbags and sound structural integrity that channels crash forces away from the occupants, while the growing array of safety assist technologies, such as blind spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking, are designed to help avoid crashes in the first place.

Rhianne Robson, director of communications and advocacy at the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) - the body charged with undertaking rigorous crash testing of cars on the Australian market - says the star ratings given to vehicles are important in helping consumers make

an informed choice about which vehicle to buy.

“The level of protection provided to occupants is vitally important, but equally, ANCAP exists to encourage the development and fitment of collision avoidance features,” Robson says.

“Active safety systems can help prevent or, at a minimum, can reduce the effects of a crash.”

For RAC’s Anne Still, the best safety system is about making a range of better choices.

“A smart choice of vehicle, adherence to speed and road conditions, and avoidance of alcohol, inattention or fatigue could all drastically reduce the risk of a crash on the road.

“There’s also a lot of design work undertaken to try and protect vehicle occupants and other road users. So prioritising safety features when buying a car is a critical element of protecting yourself and others to help create a safe road system.

“It can be all too easy to forget when you get behind the wheel that you’re operating several tonnes of metal which, when it comes up against a very fragile human form, can cause untold and everlasting damage.”

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O U R S TAT E

3 LIFESAVING PRIORITIES TO KICK-START THE WA ECONOMY

What we’ve asked for in this year’s State and Federal Budgets.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching impact on the health of our communities and the economy. This year, we are calling on government to prioritise funding for three key programs that will deliver critically important infrastructure projects which can be kicked-started quickly to save thousands of lives and serious injuries, significantly reduce the associated economic burden, inject much needed investment into communities throughout the State and create thousands of jobs. We believe this will be essential for our recovery and to help ensure Western Australia remains a great place to live into the future.

1. Regional road safety package Far too many people continue to die and be seriously injured on our roads and regional WA presents a significant challenge – around 60 per cent of fatalities on WA’s roads occur on regional roads, despite only 21 per cent of the population living there.

Of highest importance to saving lives and preventing serious injuries on our roads is a State Government proposal that could reduce our regional road trauma by up to 60 per cent. It involves the delivery of effective, low-

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cost safety treatments such as sealing road shoulders, installing audible edgelines, medians and/or centrelines to address run-off-road and head-on crashes across 17,000km of the State’s regional road network. This package would save more than 2100 people from being killed or seriously injured, create more than 500 direct and indirect jobs (and training opportunities) annually and return $4 in value to the community from each dollar invested.

It has been costed at $900

million over nine years and, in June this year, it was announced that the Federal Government would commit $80 million in funding (in addition to the State Government’s contribution of $20 million from the Road Trauma Trust Account) for the first year but we want to see funding committed to deliver this crucial, lifesaving program in full. Given the nature of the works and the expected benefits, we believe it should be prioritised for delivery over four years.

RAC is calling on the State and Federal governments to commit full funding for this strategic program to deliver low-cost treatments across 17,000km of WA’s regional road network to save thousands of lives and serious injuries and create significant job and training opportunities (total program cost of $900 million).

60%

of WA road fatalities occur on regional roads.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

O U R S TAT E

2. Low-cost metropolitan intersection program Did you know that in the Perth metropolitan area, one in two crashes occur at an intersection? In fact, almost 60 per cent of nominations received from members as part of our last Risky Roads campaign were in relation to one of Perth’s more than 50,000 intersections.

We feel it is important to scale up efforts to make intersections safer for all road users through trialling and installing effective,

low-cost treatments more widely across the road network to address common challenges at different intersection types. This would allow more intersections to be improved, more quickly, to maximise the safety benefits and value of investment.

Treatments, which could be implemented for as little as $20,000 to $50,000 per intersection, include:

Painted mini-roundabouts and turning lanes where road space permits Minor geometry improvements to slow vehicle speeds and reduce crossing distances Installation of speed cushions and raised platforms Modified signal timings and phasing, and/or Other lining, signing and speed management measures

RAC is calling on the State and Federal governments to commit funding towards a program to deliver lower cost, network-wide treatments to address common challenges at different intersection types to create a safer road network across metropolitan Perth (total initial program cost of $50 million over five years).

1 in 2

crashes are at an intersection (in metropolitan Perth)

3. Safe and connected active transport infrastructure program Supporting thriving and healthy communities now and into the future has never been so important.

Many authorities around the world are increasingly focusing on the creation of safe, active streets and expansion of infrastructure for walking and cycling as an opportunity to reimagine and revitalise their cities, streets and suburbs to achieve this, manage congestion and support economic growth as part of their COVID-19 recovery.

In WA, dissatisfaction with existing cycling infrastructure is high and fear of sharing the roads with motorists is a main reason for not cycling

Horizons / October-November 2020

more often. From our own surveys we know Western Australians want more investment in on and offroad cycling infrastructure.

Accelerating the delivery of shovel-ready, smallerscale infrastructure projects and quick-win, temporary treatments will be crucial to support increased levels of active transport in WA. Such a package could include funding to: Bring forward committed and currently unfunded projects to accelerate completion of gaps in the Principle Shared Path network and delivery of Safe Active Streets projects

Maintain and upgrade existing shared paths to improve surface and lighting quality Enable local governments to deliver active transport infrastructure projects already in the pipeline but which are yet to receive funding to accelerate delivery of the wider cycling network Enable trialling of innovative approaches to rapidly reallocate road space, expand provision for pedestrians and cyclists and create safer streets (including temporary measures like pop-up bike lanes).

RAC is calling on the State and Federal governments to commit funding towards a program to roll out priority projects to accelerate the delivery of safe and connected active transport infrastructure and enhanced streets and places for cycling and walking in WA (total initial program cost of $80 million over two years).

6 in 10 don’t feel safe as a cyclist sharing the road with motorists.

(RAC Member Priorities Tracker, March 2020)

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O U R S TAT E

The ins and outs of roundabouts A well-designed roundabout is considered by road authorities to be one of the safest types of intersections for motorists.

Roundabouts can help reduce the severity of a crash by slowing drivers down and reducing the angle and number of points where vehicles may come into conflict.

According to Main Roads, a regular four-way intersection can have up to 24 conflict points while a roundabout with four exits, only has four conflict points.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that, of all the road rules motorists need to follow in order to safely use our roads, this is arguably the one that causes the most confusion and heated debates.

So, we all travel in the same clockwise direction, at a reduced speed, on a path that reduces the angle at which we could be hit by another vehicle – sounds straightforward, right?

Roundabouts minimise what are referred to as ‘conflict points’ between vehicles because all vehicles are travelling in the same direction. Where the paths of two vehicles merge or cross one another, this is considered a potential conflict point.

But there remain two key areas of confusion for motorists when it comes to roundabouts: how to correctly enter one, and exactly when a vehicle in a roundabout should signal its exit.

Not to scale

TURN LEFT: Indicate left as you approach the roundabout. Give way to traffic already in the roundabout, which will be approaching from your right.

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ABOVE: Four-way intersections can have up to 24 conflict points, while four-exit roundabouts only have four conflict points (images adapted from Main Roads WA).

Not to scale

STRAIGHT AHEAD: Do not indicate as you enter the roundabout but indicate left when you pass the exit just before the one you wish to take. You must give way to traffic already on the roundabout.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

O U R S TAT E

Entering and exiting Probably the most important rule is to always give way to vehicles already on the roundabout. You should also only enter when there is an adequate and safe gap in the traffic, and of course always travel in a clockwise direction around the island.

The other basic rule is that you must signal to other drivers that you’re about to leave the roundabout. So, whether you’re turning left, going straight or turning right, use your left indicator to signal that you’re exiting just before your exit point.

Single-lane roundabouts The most common type of roundabout is an island at the intersection of two roads with a single lane of traffic in each direction. Here, there are four entry or exit points.

If you’re leaving at the first exit and it’s less than halfway around, you indicate a left turn before you enter and keep indicating left until you exit.

If you’re continuing straight ahead or substantially straight ahead along the road from which you entered the roundabout, don’t indicate as you enter

the roundabout but ideally indicate a left turn just before you exit. Indicate your left turn as you pass the exit just prior to the one you’re exiting from.

If you’re turning right - so exiting after the halfway point - indicate a right turn before you enter the roundabout and continue to indicate while you’re in the roundabout. Then as you pass the exit just prior to the one you’re exiting from, indicate left.

Not enough time? It’s true that on smaller, single-lane roundabouts you only travel a short distance between one exit and the next, but even a short signal from you is important as it lets any following traffic know where you’re going.

So, if practicable, you should indicate.

Three or more exits On a three-exit roundabout, or where there are more than three exit points, the key is to think about the midway point in the roundabout. If you’re taking the first exit and it is before the halfway mark on the roundabout, then indicate a left turn as you approach the roundabout and keep indicating left until you exit.

If you’re exiting between the first exit and the halfway mark, or going straight

Not to scale

TURN RIGHT: Indicate right as you approach the roundabout, and then indicate left when you pass the exit prior to the one you wish to take. As with all other manoeuvres, you must give way to traffic already in the roundabout.

Horizons / October-November 2020

ahead, indicate left as you pass the exit just prior to the one you’re exiting from.

When taking any exit after the halfway point, indicate a right turn as you enter the roundabout and then indicate left as you pass the exit that is just prior to your exit point.

Multi-lane roundabouts You need to think ahead before entering a roundabout where there are two or more lanes of traffic going in the same direction, but the same rules apply as to when you need to indicate upon entering and exiting.

Where arrows are marked on the road to show the direction of traffic, obey the direction of the arrows.

If there are no arrows, you should enter the roundabout in the left lane if you’re exiting less than halfway around or enter in the right lane if you’re exiting more than halfway around. If you are exiting halfway around, you may enter in any lane.

If you do need to change lanes once you’ve entered a multi-lane roundabout, wait until it’s safe then signal a move into the correct lane.

From there, indicate your exit as you would on any roundabout.

Not to scale

U-TURN: As with a right-hand turn, indicate right as you approach the roundabout and then indicate left when you are past the exit just prior to the one you wish to take.

Remember to give way to traffic already in the roundabout.

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O U R S TAT E

Driving the switch to electric While many countries are finding smart ways of getting more people into electric cars, Australia is still a little way down the road.

By Ruth Callaghan Electric vehicles (EV) are cleaner, quieter and cheaper to maintain, and while the number on our roads remains low, the range of EVs on offer for Australian motorists is slowly increasing as their prices are slowly decreasing.

Today one in every 1400 vehicles is either an electric (EV) or battery electric vehicle (BEV), according to the latest Australian Motor Vehicle Census, an

Horizons / October-November 2020

improvement on previous years but still barely a blip on the highway.

And while the number of new EVs registered in Australia more than doubled last year, figures from the WA Department of Transport show there were still only 1100 EVs registered in WA as of March.

Across the globe, however, the demand for EVs continues to rise.

Is it time for Australian government incentives to spark up the local EV market, and how could those incentives be applied? “Low and zero emission vehicles such as EVs have a clear role to play in helping Australia transition to cleaner transport and reducing our everyday emissions,� says RAC general manager Public Policy and Mobility, Anne Still.

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O U R S TAT E

“Governments in Australia should be exploring a range of incentives and tax breaks that reflect EVs reduced level of emissions, as well as the comparatively higher cost to purchase, to accelerate uptake of these vehicles.”

Still says the shift to reducing harmful transport emissions continues to be a challenge for Australia, with our cars on average twice as dirty as those required by new European emissions standards.

And while many countries have set dates to phase out the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, there’s little clarity around how such a target could be achieved in Australia.

At the same time, the interest in electric vehicles continues to grow, Still says, but is being held back by inconsistent policy and measures.

“A recent RAC survey revealed that one in two Western Australians would consider buying an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next vehicle purchase,” she says.

“The appetite is there — we just need to provide the right regulatory environment that supports and even encourages that purchase.”

EV interest continues to climb After decades of steady growth in passenger car sales, 2017 appears to have been the year purchasing peaked.

Since then we’ve seen a steady decline in global sales and, due to COVID-19, this year’s sales figures are tipped to be slashed again.

But EVs have powered on.

The International Energy Agency points to strong EV sales in Europe in early 2020 to support its forecast that electric car sales could actually do better this year than last and achieve a record share of the car market of more than three per cent.

The strong sales rely not just on interest in EVs, but also on the incentives and regulation governments have introduced.

A little incentive goes a long way Around the world, many countries have engaged in either push or pull incentives — pushing people towards EVs and other low-emission vehicles by making it less attractive to own higher-emitting cars, or pulling people into the market with price subsidies, reduced on-road costs and tax breaks.

When those incentives are wound back, however, sales can slump.

China is a good example, as the country that makes up about half of the world’s EV sales, and where EVs represent about one in every 20 cars sold.

Chinese sales have been fuelled by a range of incentives that exempt EVs from the rules applied to many other vehicles, such as restrictions on registration and driving bans that apply on certain days or in certain megacities.

The country is pushing for EVs to be a quarter of new car sales by 2025

BELOW: In the Netherlands, a discount of EUR4000 is supporting local EV sales.

26

October-November 2020 / Horizons

O U R S TAT E

70%

of new cars sales in Norway are electric vehicles.

1100

the total number electric vehicles registered in WA. (March 2020)

ABOVE: An EV charging station in Tianjin, China.

but its bid to phase out subsidies last year nearly derailed that goal, with the local market suddenly contracting.

In April this year, the decision was reversed, not only to keep sales moving but to address China’s wider economic downturn from coronavirus, and incentives will now continue in some form until 2022.

Australia stands almost alone in offering no Federal EV targets, standards or incentives.

Similar issues have been seen in other countries that have tried to pare back EV incentives. Germany’s incentives had been due to end this year but were extended last year after the country failed to meet its target of one million EVs. The German government’s response to coronavirus has seen the subsidy doubled — it’s now equivalent to a A$15,000 incentive on a car costing A$60,000.

Horizons / October-November 2020

In the Netherlands, a new discount of EUR4000 has been launched to support local sales, although for a capped number of private cars.

Often, when it comes to EV incentives, subsidies also go hand in hand with a range of supporting measures.

Germany’s EV incentives include reduced road taxes and registration costs, free parking in some towns, a discount on VAT (the German equivalent of GST), subsidies for car manufacturers, support for service stations rolling out charging stations, and a cash bonus for employers or businesses that install fast-chargers on site.

In Norway, where around 70 per cent of new cars purchased are EVs, the sale of ICEs will be banned by 2025.

Its incentives range from discounted ferry fares to reduced parking costs, special access to bus lanes and reduced road toll fees.

European countries also operate under increasingly tighter vehicle emissions regulations which encourage manufacturers to sell more lower emissions vehicles.

“Setting the right regulatory

environment can help create an impetus to change, for manufacturers and consumers alike, increasing supply and demand for lower emission vehicles,” says Anne Still.

“There’s a range of possible options which could help incentivise uptake in Australia and WA, including those that provide direct and in-direct financial support such as stamp duty, registration and parking discounts.”

Australia lags on EV support Yet despite the raft of policy measures elsewhere, Australia stands almost alone in offering no Federal EV targets, standards or incentives.

We lack the tough vehicle CO2 emission standards applied by other countries that make it less attractive to import high-emission vehicles into those countries, but also offer none of the financial enticements that could sway consumers to buy an EV. Thanks to action at the state level, that position could finally be changing.

The ACT has recently set a target to have 100 per cent of its government fleet as electric vehicles by 2021.

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O U R S TAT E

Queensland is developing its network of EV fast-charging stations and joins Victoria in reducing stamp duty for electric vehicles.

The NSW Government announced in March that it will triple its purchasing of EVs and hybrid vehicles to around 900 a year and also incentivise fleet owners to purchase EVs, with the goal of these moving into the private market within a few years.

In WA, a long-awaited report released in March outlined ways that fast charging could be supported by the State Government, addressing a key concern for many drivers: range anxiety.

Anne Still says the fear of running out of charge acts as a disincentive for drivers but knowing there are enough fast charging stations along the way combats that concern.

“You need the charging infrastructure to help create the demand, but you also need EVs on the road to demand the infrastructure, so it can be a bit of a chicken and egg dilemma,” she says “It’s one reason why we developed the RAC Electric Highway®, which is a network of 11 publicly accessible EV fast-charging stations between Perth and the South West.

“Having a broader EV charging network is really important enabling infrastructure for EV drivers today and tomorrow.”

WA still weighing up options

alongside the development of the State Climate Policy.”

Back in 2018, Main Roads commissioned researchers at the University of Western Australia (UWA) to look at how a state-wide electric charging network could be delivered to support EV expansion.

RAC’s Anne Still says the development of the state and national electric vehicle strategies will be an important step forward in the Federal and State governments working together to accelerate EV take-up.

The researchers found that charging stations could be installed roughly every 200km, from Eucla to Kununurra, at 61 locations for an estimated cost of $23.6 million.

Besides infrastructure, addressing challenges like the cost of vehicle taxes could assist.

An extra $5 million would increase the coverage and make all the sites faster charging, while even a paredback network with slower charging speeds could be developed for just over $18 million.

The State Government has not indicated whether it will take up the recommendations.

Lisa Harry from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation said the group was still investigating how to support the uptake of EVs. “The recommendations in the UWA report are being considered alongside other advice in the development of a draft state electric vehicle strategy,” Harry says.

“This work is informing the development of the draft state electric vehicle strategy for consideration by Government. It’s being progressed

A luxury car tax of 33 per cent applies for every dollar a fuel-efficient vehicle costs above $77,565 - a threshold which captures more expensive models such as many Teslas. Stamp duty in WA jumps to 6.5 per cent of the price once a car costs more than $50,000.

There are also important policy changes that can support the willingness of automakers to see Australia as a viable market so they offer a range of low and zero emissions vehicles here, including improving slack rules around carbon emissions from vehicles, rules which already lag well behind the rest of the developed world.

“There’s a lot that can be done at the state and federal level — there really needs to be action at both,” Still says.

“Introducing a meaningful mandatory national CO2 standard for new light vehicles would encourage more vehicles into the market and give Australians more choice.”

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LEFT: One of the RAC Electric Highway® charging stations, in Margaret River.

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October-November 2020 / Horizons

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The free test and 2 weeks’ home trial was a real bonus with lots of flexibility, and first up I noticed I’d started enjoying music more than I had in years. The changes were subtle, but great. I found that watching TV wasn’t a matter of turning the volume

up, but more about speech clarity so that I understood dialogue and could follow the story. Previously speech sounded like a lot of muffled, mumbling nonsense which saw me fall asleep in front of the screen. I even tested my hearing aids by taking them out and trying to understand to appreciate that yes, they make a huge difference.

We attend quite a number of family functions which have improved enormously because I can converse with confidence.

On an annual trip way down south with my former netball friends, even in the back seat of the car I could join in on the conversation, in spite of road noise as we drove along.

In previous years I’d sit and say nothing and feel isolated because I couldn’t constantly be asking for what was said to be repeated. This time around I was right back in the thick of things and positively enjoying life, a member of the team again.

From my first-hand experience of hearing loss in loved ones, I know I have started at the right age and won’t be causing this frustration to those close to me. Sue Green

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O U R S TAT E

MAKING HISTORY A visual feast inside and out, the new Museum is a stunning home for WA’s greatest stories and treasures and also a good place to soak up city life.

By Wendy Caccetta Even before its opening, the new Western Australian Museum had made a list of the buildings that would shape the world this year, alongside the likes of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, The Berlin Brandenburg Airport and M+ Museum in Hong Kong.

This November, we’ll be able to see what all the fuss is about when the doors open on a $400 million labour of love that elegantly binds our past to the present and which Museum chief Alec Coles hopes will sit at the beating heart of our State.

Coles is excited that the biggest transformation in the Museum’s history — eight years in the planning and execution— has attracted such attention, even from international broadcaster CNN, which in January named it one of the Most Anticipated Buildings to Shape the World in 2020 for its architecture.

“This type of thing doesn’t come along very often,” Coles says. “I’ve worked on some pretty big developments in

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the UK but not on this scale. It’s been a kind of journey of discovery for all of us.”

A preview tour of the new Museum for Horizons revealed a striking four-level facility of brick, glass and steel that envelopes and unites the four heritage buildings that made up the old site — the Old Gaol circa 1855; the original WA Museum, Jubilee Building (1899); the first Art Gallery (1908); and Hackett Hall, the State Library’s old reading room built in 1913.

“The architectural design is very much inspired by the strata of the rocks of WA,” Coles says. “Some people have even suggested the big entrance is inspired a bit by Nature’s Window up in Kalbarri.”

Portal for our past and present Designed by international firms Hassell and OMA, the building is tasked with providing what Coles describes as a “super charged portal for the whole of the State”.

Visually it’s a treat, from a tunnel of minerals illuminated like a beautiful kaleidoscope to a vintage ute turned into an artwork and carrying slogans of Aboriginal cultural pride.

“The architectural design is very much inspired by the strata of the rocks of WA.” In eight new permanent galleries, thousands of old and new treasures and stories are presented in fresh ways, such as the ancient Megalodon’s head — the biggest shark that ever existed — cast this year from fossil work in the Mid West, to old favourite, Otto, the giant blue whale which washed ashore at Busselton in 1897 and whose skeleton now hangs in a dramatic dive from the ceiling of the Stan Perron Treasures Gallery.

Visiting exhibitions will be housed in a special 1000 square metre gallery.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

O U R S TAT E

Peter Bennett

amount of trepidation at the time about whether we could host it, whether we could make it work,” Coles says.

“I remember that the Cultural Centre at that point was under the auspices of the East Perth Redevelopment Authority and the weekend we opened they started digging up the road outside the Museum. It was like a building site. On a Sunday afternoon only 10 people came in.

“But gradually as people got the message it built and it built, and at that point became the most successful thing we’d ever done. One hundred and thirteen thousand visitors came.

Michael Haluwana

“It demonstrated our capability and the appetite among the people of Perth.”

From the ground up About 3300 people have worked on building and outfitting the new Museum, from architects to builders and curators, many world experts in their fields.

Museum representatives criss crossed WA talking to as many groups as they could about the best items to show and the most important stories to tell.

Just bringing items out of storage, where some had remained for four years from the closing of the old museum in mid 2016, has taken more than a year.

TOP: The new Western Australian Museum; ABOVE: Otto the blue whale returns after 17 years in storage.

The Museum is also poised to become a hub for city life. Stunning spaces and balconies will be available for social events from cocktail parties to long table dinners and even weddings.

On the ground floor, an open-air courtyard ‘City Room’ invites people into the belly of the precinct. Even its grapevine has a story. At 170 years old it is thought to have been planted by the first jailer and is Australia’s oldest fruiting grapevine.

Horizons / October-November 2020

Against the odds Coles, who arrived in WA from the UK in 2010, says people initially said the new museum would never happen.

The popularity of the visiting A Day in Pompeii exhibition in 2010, however, showed there was demand for what modern Museum’s could offer.

“I’d come from the UK and I was negotiating for that exhibition while I was in the UK and there was a fair

Then there were the special challenges, like how to hang a four tonne blue whale. Special expertise came from a Canadian company that did similar work for the National History Museum in London.

“Every rig had to be tightly wound,” Coles says. “It’s sculpted to every vertebrae.”

What’s on show?

Visitors can find their own way around the Museum or use their smart phones to download the Museum app and be guided through its highlights. Entry will be free for the first 18 months.

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Michael Haluwana

O U R S TAT E

ABOVE: The new Museum unites four heritage buildings; TOP RIGHT: Internal view of the Wildlife gallery; BOTTOM RIGHT: Mineral kaleidescope in the Origins gallery.

A visit starts outside in The City Room, which has native plants and Whadjuk dance and yarning circles. Also check out the 12-tonne chunk of Mundrabilla meteorite, the largest ever found in Australia.

Through the Museum front doors visitors will find themselves at Ngalang Koort Boodja Wirn — Nyoongar for heart, country and spirit — a gallery where Aboriginal stories are told through their own voices.

Otto the blue whale makes a stunning return to public life after 17 years in storage.

In the Innovations gallery, groundbreaking WA advances such as the world’s biggest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array, are showcased.

Among them are Coles’s favourites — 3D facial analysis work for rare diseases

by WA Professor Gareth Baynam and the classical music breakthrough,

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the Smallman guitar, invented by Esperance’s Greg Smallman.

For lovers of traditional history, the Reflections gallery features defining WA moments and landmarks, such as the advent of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Old Swan Brewery.

In the Treasures gallery, Otto the blue whale makes a stunning return to public life after 17 years in storage.

The Changes gallery covers human interaction with the environment from the timber industry to whaling, fishing and more, while the Origins gallery captures the richness of the land, water and sky and includes an internationally significant meteorite collection.

The Connections gallery looks at WA’s place in the world with stories of Indian Ocean travel, migration, refugees and asylum seekers.

And the Wildlife gallery showcases stars of today’s natural world from numbats to trapdoor spiders, back in time to dinosaurs and mega fauna.

Not part of a gallery, but prominently displayed, a COVID-19 collection provides a snapshot of life in the coronavirus pandemic.

The Museum also features a new cafe and gift shop.

Coles says the new facility is for all West Australians.

“We’ve got the oldest continuous culture and certainly Australia’s most diverse population in terms of multiculturalism. We’ve got all these different experiences,” he says.

“These are stories we need to explore and investigate.”

October-November 2020 / Horizons

“If you’re having trouble hearing, listen to the science.

Not the sales talk.”

– Sandra Bellekom B.Psych.,Dip.Aud., M.Aud.S.A.(CCP) CEO, Board Member and Audiologist Ear Science Institute Australia

Sales talk – it’s one of Australia’s biggest pet peeves. That’s why when you’re having trouble hearing, we ask you to listen to the science, not the sales talk.

Lions Hearing Clinics are part of Ear Science Institute Australia, our world renowned research centre in Perth.

While we’re checking your hearing in the clinic, our international team of scientists are in the lab, making incredible discoveries about our ears and hearing.

Since we’re completely commission free - and backed by our world renowned research - you can rest assured our recommendations are always wellinformed.

You don’t need a referral to see us, but please do make an appointment.

Call 1800 054 667 or visit our website at: lionshearing.org.au.

Our researchers share their findings with our clinicians - and that’s where the magic happens.

Our clinicians use these latest research findings to assess your hearing, and recommend treatments or devices for your specific needs. Throughout your journey, we always put your needs and your care first.

Part of Ear Science Institute Australia

Stewart Allen

O U R S TAT E

E-BIKES, E-SKATEBOARDS, E-SCOOTERS What are the rules?

Personal transporters, like Marty McFly’s hoverboard in Back to the Future, are not quite ready for the consumer market but small battery-powered devices like e-scooters, e-skateboards, Segways and e-bikes have the potential to revolutionise the way we travel.

By Jane Hammond

Horizons / October-November 2020

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O U R S TAT E

In cities around the world, e-bikes and personal mobility devices (PMDs), like e-scooters and e-skateboards, are taking city pavements, bike lanes and roads by storm.

In Australia, these small batterypowered get-arounds are becoming more visible, as commuters look for new and more efficient ways to beat congestion and save time and money.

But in maximising their potential, we first must overcome a few hurdles around their safe and legal use.

In WA, the Road Traffic Code 2000 specifies that e-scooters must only be capable of travelling at a top speed of 10km/h (when propelled by the motor on level ground) and the motor can only have a maximum power output of 200 watts. But despite this, many devices being sold in the State are higher powered, can travel faster and can’t be legally used on public roads and paths in WA. If a PMD can travel above 10km/h it could technically be considered a ‘motor vehicle’ under the current regulations. However, motor vehicles must be licensed and operated in accordance with the Road Traffic Code, which isn’t possible for these devices.

So, a rider could, again technically, be

regarded as operating an unlicensed vehicle. E-bikes have a different classification and can travel up to 25km/h when propelled by the motor.

RAC senior manager Public Policy, Sarah Macaulay, says e-bikes and PMDs have the potential to reduce unnecessary car trips and harmful vehicle emissions. E-bikes are helping to make cycling a more convenient commuting option and PMDs are becoming increasingly appealing for shorter trips.

But she says there is a lot of confusion around the legality of devices and how they should operate in public areas, as well as safety considerations.

“The current laws governing the use of roads and paths in WA are not really set up for PMDs and don’t recognise many new devices. We’re seeing a lot of e-scooters which don’t comply with current regulations, as well as other PMDs like e-skateboards which aren’t defined in the Code. What rules apply to these is unclear.”

Keeping it legal Director of Future Mobility with the Department of Transport, Simon Grieve, warns that riding noncompliant PMDs anywhere other than on private property could land you in trouble with the law.

Grieve says the State Government is working to examine ways that PMDs could be safely introduced in WA and are closely monitoring their use in other cities.

“The National Transport Commission, with input from the states and territories, is examining the barriers to the safe use of PMDs and is expected to make recommendations about national regulations to state and federal transport ministers in November 2020,” he says.

“We’re seeing a lot of e-scooters which don’t comply with current regulations.”

RAC’s Sarah Macaulay says that refining the framework for the safe and legal use of new and emerging PMDs will be crucial, particularly as demand increases.

“Safety must be first and foremost and we need to give careful consideration to where and how PMDs operate to reduce potential conflicts with others sharing the same space.

“We know from a recent RAC member survey that pedestrians often don’t feel safe sharing paths with PMDs.” Macaulay says that during recent COVID-19 restrictions, Perth saw shared paths and streets come alive with more people walking, cycling and riding PMDs for exercise and recreation.

“We really want to see the boost in active travel sustained as the new normal, but with increased activity we need to be even more conscious and considerate of other shared path users.”

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October-November 2020 / Horizons

A growing market Market analysts Grand View Research estimate the global e-scooter market alone has an annual worth of more than $28.7 billion.

Stewart Allen

O U R S TAT E

It says that the rising need for fuel-efficient vehicles, backed by increasing concerns over carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, is expected to drive the adoption of e-scooters over the next decade.

Grand View forecasts that advances in technology, and in particular battery life, will further the popularity of these devices.

The Department of Transport’s Simon Grieve says anecdotal evidence suggests that sales of e-bikes and PMDs are increasing across the nation.

Nationally there are around 1.2 million bicycles sold in Australia every year and e-bikes make up a small but rapidly growing share of that total.

Bike Industries Australia general manager, Peter Bourke, says electric bike sales in Australia have doubled every year for the past three years.

He forecasts that at least 60,000 new e-bikes will have hit the road in the 12 months to July this year.

Segways, although popular overseas, have not yet made big inroads into the Australian market. In WA there are an estimated 200 Segways in operation and most of these are used as tour vehicles by tourist operators.

Grieve says WA’s first e-scooter rental trial commenced in the City of Bunbury in March this year. It was only running a short time before the COVID-19 restrictions called a halt to the trial but was well received by the public.

In the UK, the Government announced in May that it would be fast-tracking approvals for e-scooters on its pavements and roads as a way of boosting the economy post the COVID-19 crisis and maintaining social distancing. The move is part of a A$475 million plan

Horizons / October-November 2020

to increase cycle lanes and promote micro-mobility as a transport option.

E-scooter rideshare rental company Lime is working on approvals to get a trial of the latest generation of e-scooters on the streets of Perth by this summer. Similar trials have taken place in Brisbane and ride-sharing scooter schemes now operate in more than 120 cities around the world.

E-bikes

PAPCs are permitted to have a motor with a maximum output of 200 watts, while Pedelecs are allowed a motor up to 250 watts. In both cases, the power assistance must cut out at 25km/h.

They cost anywhere from $1500 to $15,000 and have a range of up to 150km. They’re relatively cheap to run, costing less than a $1 for a full battery charge.

Riders must be 16 years or over to ride an e-bike with the motor engaged and all riders must wear protective helmets.

E-bikes are in a different vehicle category to the smaller PMDs and can be ridden on shared paths, bike lanes and roads in WA.

E-scooters, e-skateboards and hoverboards

There are two main types of e-bikes defined under WA regulations: Power Assisted Pedal Cycles (PAPCs) and Pedelecs (which comply with European Standards).

In WA, e-scooters, where the motor has a maximum power output of 200 watts and the device has a maximum speed of 10km/h (when propelled by the motor on level ground), can be

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Stewart Allen

O U R S TAT E

Segways were originally designed 20 years ago as an alternative to the car and are used in countries around the world as transport devices, particularly in Europe. They have also been popular in tourist hotspots. Recently, Segway announced that it would cease production of the original Segway branded device, however other similar devices will continue to be manufactured.

Safety concerns The Pedestrian Council of Australia has described the use of e-scooters and other rideable electric devices on footpaths and shared paths as a great risk to pedestrian safety.

ridden on footpaths and suburban roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or lower with no dividing line or median strip. They can’t be ridden on one-way roads with more than one marked lane or after dark. A helmet is required when riding these devices in WA. E-scooters cost upwards of $1000 and can be fully recharged for well under a dollar. Some e-scooters can be folded and carried on public transport.

E-skateboards and hoverboards can be bought for a few hundred dollars.

The hoverboards currently available to the consumer market are electrically powered balance boards on wheels.

It’s important to note that e-skateboards and hoverboards are currently not defined under the rules that govern WA’s roads and paths, so if you’re thinking of buying one to use anywhere other than private property, contact WA’s Department of Transport first.

Segways Segways and similar self-balancing personal e-transporters, are at the high end of the PMD market, retailing at around $10,000 to $12,000 each.

They are allowed on shared paths in WA in specific areas but only as part

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of commercial tour operations where they’re limited to speeds of 10km/h.

Their private use in public areas is banned in WA. Australian Segway distributor Belinda Hill says Segways can be ridden by most people and are even used in the disability sector to assist people with mobility issues.

“With increased activity we need to be even more conscious and considerate of other shared path users.”

She says the devices are also being used in warehouses, farms and other private property and have been used as police vehicles in Queensland.

Australia’s first e-scooter death was recorded in Brisbane in May 2019. The Royal Australian College of Surgeons and the Australian Injury Prevention Network found in a survey covering just two months last year, that 134 e-scooter riders in Brisbane presented to hospital for treatment. Although the majority of these injuries were minor (i.e. abrasions, upper limb fractures and sprains), three people were treated for serious head injuries.

But Simon Grieve says that, with the right regulation, PMDs could prove a relatively safe and efficient means to travel short distances.

He says experience elsewhere indicates these devices do have a role to play in the broader transport ecosystem as demand for more innovative, efficient and affordable ways to move around cities and communities intensifies.

The minimum age for riding this type of device in WA is 12 and helmets are mandatory.

“The wheels on the devices are relatively small, so they are susceptible to pavement irregularities like potholes and pavement cracks which could contribute to spills and injuries.”

Hill says Segways cost around 60c to fully recharge. The street models can travel distances of up to 29km, while the all-terrain vehicles can travel up to 19km.

But he notes that many studies have shown that the mandatory wearing of helmets would go a long way to preventing these spills from becoming medical incidents.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

Enter here so you can get there Now, more than ever, West Aussies are keen to get back out and explore our great state. We’re already offering free vehicle health checks and free caravan training sessions to help you get back on the road safely. And now we’re helping to make your next getaway even more enjoyable.

Jump online and take our road safety quiz for your chance to win* a three-night stay at any of the nine RAC Parks & Resorts locations. Good luck, and safe travels WA.

Visit rac.com.au/win to enter *Terms and conditions apply. Competition open to RAC members only.

Relax your way across WA

Whether you’re chasing adventure, looking for a fix of nature or just want to escape and unwind. RAC Parks & Resorts has a range of quality accommodation options in nine iconic holiday locations, from Broome all the way to Esperance.

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RAC Cable Beach 1 Holiday Park

2 RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park 3 Ningaloo Reef Resort

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The power of membership

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Perth

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R17584

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See website for full details.

T R AV E L

Forest rush WA’s Southern Forests region is renowned for its slow pace and indulgent escapes but there’s plenty on the menu for those who want to indulge in adventure, too.

By Mark Daffey The towering karri and jarrah forests of the Pemberton region shade rich, loamy soils that produce world-class wines and aromatic black truffles that are coveted by Michelin-starred chefs the world over. It’s a place to relax, indulge and escape.

But if you prefer your forest getaway with a healthy serve of outdoor activity, there’s also plenty of that on offer in this stunning region, from mountain biking through hardwood forests, to kayaking, fishing and coastal hikes where migratory humpback whales swim close to shore.

Riding the trails In 2006, Pemberton Visitor Centre officials opened discussions around the construction of fresh mountain bike trails on the edge of town. Three years later, with funding assistance from various government bodies,

BELOW: Canoeing on Lake Beedelup at RAC Karri Valley Resort.

Horizons / October-November 2020

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T R AV E L

Frances Andrijich

Mark Daffey

LEFT: Riding at Mountain Bike Park trail, Pemberton; ABOVE: Hiking on the Warren River Loop, Pemberton.

the Pemberton Mountain Bike Park opened on a forested hill above the historic town pool.

Further trails were added during subsequent years and there are now 32km of trails, graded beginner to advanced.

Included is a pump track and skills loop, with technical climbs and fast, flowy downhills featuring tight corners, drop-offs, rollovers and rock gardens.

The signature trail is Relentless Blue, whose ramped berms, wall rides and log rollovers will test even expert mountain bikers’ skills. Pemberton General Store is the only place in town that rents bikes and also has spare parts, but their bike range is limited, so bring your own if you can.

The WA South West Master Plan has identified Pemberton as a National Ride destination and Nannup as a regionally significant destination for mountain bike trail development, so watch this space.

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National Geographic included the Munda Biddi Trail as one of its Top 10 Cycle Routes in the World. The 1000-kilometre-long bike trail, which means ‘path through the forest’ in the Noongar language, links Mundaring with Albany using a network of bush tracks, firebreaks and rail trails, passing through Nannup, Manjimup, Pemberton and Northcliffe. Purposebuilt accommodation huts reserved solely for riders are spread out along the route.

Decaying road and rail lines that were once used to move jarrah logs around Nannup have been repurposed as rail trails that can now be combined into a 37-kilometre cycling loop.

The Timberline Trail follows St John Brook Creek past numerous swimming holes, intersecting with the Sidings Rail Trail that follows the course of a former government railway. A 54-kilometre rail trail also connects Nornalup with Denmark.

Pull on the hiking boots With such a large number of national parks and reserves in the region, there are always new places to explore on foot. The 1000-kilometre Bibbulmun Track is one of the world’s great long-distance hiking trails, connecting Kalamunda with Albany.

The trail passes right by Pemberton’s Gloucester Tree and the WalpoleNornalup National Park’s Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, where a bridge weaves through the forest canopy 40 metres above the forest floor.

Of course, there are also plenty of shorter walks lasting anything from an hour to a day. West of Pemberton, the trail to Beedelup Falls skirts Lake Beedelup – home to RAC Karri Valley Resort – before climbing to a suspension bridge overlooking the cascades. At 100 metres, it’s one of the highest in WA. Further south, the Warren River Loop Walk meanders beside the river

October-November 2020 / Horizons

T R AV E L

Tourism Western Australia

becauz gao / Shutterstock.com

ABOVE: Climbing the Gloucester Tree in Pemberton; RIGHT: Four-wheel driving through the Yeagarup Dunes, D’Entrecasteaux National Park.

through groves of karri, sheoak and Warren River cedar. A five-kilometre walking trail near Northcliffe leads from the Boorara Tree, a decommissioned fire lookout, and to Lane Poole Falls on the Canterbury River. Nearby, the climb to the top of the 185-metre Mt Chudalup affords sweeping views over the surrounding karri forest.

The Great Forest Trees Walk in Shannon National Park takes you deep into the karri forest, following an old forestry track. The Summit Trail to the top of Mount Frankland leads to Towerman’s Lookout, where there are remarkable views over the Walpole Wilderness Area. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Stirling Range and the Southern Ocean.

The Point D’Entrecasteaux Cliff Top Walk at Windy Harbour is an excellent location to spot migratory southern right whales. Inside the point, the sheltered Cathedral Rock beach is one of the safest places to swim in the area.

Horizons / October-November 2020

You’ll need a head for heights if you want to tackle one of two karri tree climbs in the region. The tallest, at 75 metres is the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, inside Warren National Park.

Next is the Gloucester Tree, in Pemberton itself; the 61-metre-high tree was first used as a fire lookout in 1947. A wooden cabin was built 51 metres above the ground at the Diamond Tree, halfway between Pemberton and Manjimup. It’s the only one of the three trees now off limits to climbers.

Four-wheel adventure Thirty kilometres south of Pemberton, the Yeagarup Sand Dunes is a moving dune system that acts as a siren call for serious off-roaders. Experienced four-wheel drivers can follow old forestry tracks through the Warren and D’Entrecasteaux National Parks before crossing the Southern Hemisphere’s largest land-locked mobile dune system to Yeagarup Beach.

Pemberton Discovery Tours has been ferrying guests to the dunes on their Beach & Forest Eco Adventure tour since 1999. Four-hour tours depart daily at 9am and come highly recommended for the insightful commentary offered. Full-day off-road adventures to Black Point, visiting Goblin Swamp and Lake Jasper, the region’s largest natural freshwater lake, are also on offer.

The Karri Forest Explorer near Pemberton is an 86-kilometre selfguided drive through some of the region’s most magnificent karri forest.

The trail takes in the beautiful Beedelup Falls and follows Warren National Park’s Heartbreak Trail, as well as Big Brook Dam, where swimming and trout fishing are popular pastimes. Shannon National Park’s Great Forest Trees Drive passes through spectacular old growth karri, jarrah and marri forests to a network of forest walks.

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T R AV E L

Frances Andrijich

Mark Daffey

ABOVE: Yeagarup Dunes are the Southern Hemisphere’s largest land-locked mobile dune system; RIGHT: Fishing at Salmon Beach, Windy Harbour.

On the water Summers are ideal for lazy paddles down the Blackwood River. The river is the longest waterway in the South West and when the waters are flowing in winter, white-water rafting comes into play. Be warned though: the rapids either side of Bridgetown should be respected, having hosted serious wild water racing events in the past.

Blackwood River Canoeing in Nannup rents canoes by the hour and also offers extended tours.

Canoeists can launch from Maiden Bush, Warren and Draftys camps on the Warren River. The paddle to the coast can take a couple of days. Pemberton Hiking and Canoeing run guided river tours, including evening tours spotting nocturnal wildlife. Tours start at $50 per person (adults) for a half-day.

Alternatively, a 12-kilometre paddle among jarrah, karri and paperbark forests and through wetlands leads to

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the Donnelly River mouth. River cruises are also available through Donnelly River Cruises. Lakes Yeagarup and Jasper are also popular with canoeists, and you can hire canoes from the RAC Karri Valley Resort to paddle on peaceful Lake Beedelup.

Gone fishing With its myriad rivers, lakes and inlets, anglers are spoiled for choice in this region. Budding anglers will love trying to hook a fresh rainbow trout or marron at Old Vasse Trout and Marron Farm in Pemberton. Entry is $15 for adults, $10 for children up to 14 years old and $5 for pensioners. Rods are an extra $5 and they’ll give you a container full of doughy bait balls that get snapped up the moment they hit the water.

If you’re staying at RAC Karri Valley Resort, there are plenty of trout to catch in Lake Beedelup during your stay.

Bring your own rod or hire them onsite.

The chef at Tall Timbers restaurant in Manjimup or Ardal Nigg at Hidden River Estate in Pemberton can even cook up your catch for you. Seriously, meals do not come any fresher than that.

Not into fishing but love fish and marron?

See Dave Evans at Pemberton’s Forest Fresh Marron for both and he’ll make sure they’re ready to cook.

Mark Daffey travelled courtesy of Australia’s South West.

RAC members save Members save up to 20%* off stays at RAC Karri Valley Resort in Pemberton. In addition to lakeside chalets, the Resort will soon open powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites and modern camp facilities.

To find out more and to book, visit racparksandresorts.com.au *Discounts vary according to season

October-November 2020 / Horizons

art

MOTORING

Motor news

By Alex Forrest

The latest news from the motoring world

Nexo land Hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars had a sudden increase in numbers on Australian roads following the importation of 20 Hyundai Nexo hydrogen fuel cell-powered SUVs, which will be used by government fleets in the ACT. Like other hydrogen vehicles, the Nexo works by passing hydrogen and air through a fuel cell stack, which generates electricity (water and heat are also by-products) to power an electric motor that drives the wheels. The Nexo’s range on a tank of hydrogen is particularly impressive, with a claimed 666km. The trial of 20 Hyundai Nexos is being run in Canberra because that is the location of a new hydrogen refueler.

Rangie at 50 The original Range Rover, which is widely regarded as being responsible for the invention of the luxury SUV, turned 50 in June. Initially though, it wasn’t all that luxurious. With only two side doors, a manual gearbox and a vinyl interior designed to be hosed out when dirty, it was somewhat utilitarian. But the basis of a luxury off roader was there, with coil spring suspension, full-time four-wheel drive and a powerful V8 offering a combination of ride comfort, off road ability and refinement that wasn’t available elsewhere. Plus, a horizontally split tailgate and a driving position with excellent all-around visibility also helped make it immediately popular.

Later versions of the Range Rover would go on to win the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1979 and 1981. In 2005 it got a smaller sibling with the Range Rover Sport, and in 2010 the even smaller Range Rover Evoque arrived.

E-tron arrived

ANCAP emergency app A new smartphone app designed to help protect emergency services and enable them to provide faster first aid at a crash has been launched by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The app, which provides access to rescue information on a wide range of vehicle models, is designed to assist first responders identify the location of hazards inside a crashed car, such as fuel tanks and high-voltage cables in hybrid and electric vehicles. All of that can help emergency services personnel get occupants out of the vehicle faster so they can be moved from harm’s way and treated. ANCAP Rescue is available free from the App Store and Google Play.

Horizons / October-November 2020

Audi has finally brought its first electric vehicle, the E-tron SUV, to Australia. The 95kWh battery in the top models can store more than double the energy of a Nissan Leaf’s battery and in keeping with its high-tech, all-electric drivetrain, it can be ordered online.

But the E-tron’s best party trick is its virtual side rear-view mirrors.

Instead of conventional rear-view mirrors, it has cameras which send an image to the inside top corners of each door. Audi reckons the mirrors/cameras can see up to 300m behind the vehicle, with improved aerodynamics an additional advantage. Helping improve aerodynamics further is the dimpled underbody, which works in the same way as the surface of a golf ball. All this tech isn’t cheap though, with pricing for the E-tron starting from $153,000 drive away.

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MOTORING

Alex Forrest reviews the latest cars

Engine Features Safety Price

Specifications Engine: 2.5-litre petrol (as tested) Power: 139kW @ 6000rpm Torque: 252Nm @ 4000rpm Claimed fuel economy 6.6L/100km Price: fr $41,390 drive away* ANCAP safety rating 

*G25 Touring

Mazda CX-30 Mazda’s CX-30 small SUV arrived in Australia in early 2020, and not a moment too soon.

This is the not-too-heavy, nottoo-light little SUV which in terms of size and price, wedges itself between the baby CX-3 and the larger CX-5.

The obvious name for this vehicle would have been CX4, but because that name’s already taken by another Mazda SUV that’s sold in China, they went with CX-30.

The name might be slightly confusing, but there’s no question about the appeal of the CX-30.

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The CX-30 is essentially a taller Mazda3, and as such it offers significantly more room than the tiny CX-3 (which is based on the Mazda2).

But the CX-30 doesn’t have the height and bulk of the CX-5, which is a proper medium-sized SUV. So, on size alone, the CX-30 stands to be popular among those looking for a ‘just right’ option in a compact SUV. The build and finish of the CX-30’s interior is among best in class, and as with other recent Mazda models, ergonomics have played a major role in the design of the CX-30’s interior.

In particular, the view out of the front and sides of the CX-30 has been optimised by raising the seat height and making the A-pillars (the metal posts at either side of the windscreen) easier to see around.

The CX-30 comes with either a 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre petrol engine, which make 114kW and 139kW respectively.

Fuel consumption of these two engines is very similar.

In the regulation combined cycle, the 2.0-litre uses 6.5L/100km and the 2.5-litre needs 6.6L/100km, where front-wheel drive models are compared.

Also helping save on fuel costs is the fact both engines run on 91 octane unleaded petrol, a difference that can save you around $200 per year compared to premium fuels.

However, while the cost of each service for the CX-30 is relatively inexpensive ($320$366), the service intervals of 10,000km are relatively short and could easily result in owners visiting the service centre more than once a year.

Nonetheless, the 5-star ANCAP rated CX-30 is a small, stylish, semi-premium SUV that buyers in this segment should definitely have on their lists.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

Specifications Engine: 2.0-litre petrol turbo Power: 221kW @ 5500rpm Torque: 400Nm @ 1500-4500rpm Claimed fuel economy 6.7L/100km Price: fr $74,500 drive away ANCAP safety rating 

Jaguar XE The arrival of the Jaguar XE in 2015 heralded a small Jag that finally had the makings of a serious rival to long established small luxury sedans like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class.

The XE was really the sort of competitor that the underdeveloped X-Type should have been when that arrived in the market 14 years earlier.

Today though, even with its punchy 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine and rear drive handling, the Jaguar XE is still overlooked more often than perhaps it should be.

Horizons / October-November 2020

The XE was heavily updated in 2019 and even though you can no longer have it with that glorious supercharged V6 engine, its 2.0-litre fourcylinder turbo is far from underpowered.

With the diesel option now also gone, this 2.0-litre petrol is the sole remaining engine available in new Jaguar XEs. Handling is really the XE’s forte. Its steering is pointy and responsive, making changes in direction neat and effortless, yet it also boasts a compliant and comfortable ride quality.

The XE has received a major update to its infotainment

system – a welcome addition given previous Jaguar infotainment systems were laggy, with average quality screens.

But the image is not as sharp as a traditional mirror and you can’t use it to check your appearance at the traffic lights either.

However, the most unusual update to the XE was the addition of an internal rear-view mirror that isn’t a mirror at all. It’s a screen that is linked to a camera that sits on the rear of the roof, looking rearwards.

It’s the first time this technology has been available in a car in this segment.

The camera sends the images to the rear view ‘mirror’ screen, with the advantage being that it provides a rearward view unobstructed by tall rear passengers or rain on the rear window.

One downside of the XE is the limited room in the rear seats, and it’s also worth making sure you understand exactly what’s included in the price and what’s an extra.

Still, the XE is a rare and attractive compact saloon with notably better performance than some of the more traditional choices in this class.

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Specifications Engine: 1.0-litre petrol turbo (as tested) Power: 85kW @ 5000 - 5500rpm Torque: 200Nm @ 2000 - 3500rpm Claimed fuel economy 5.4L/100km Price: fr $37,380 drive away* ANCAP safety rating 

*30 TFSI

Audi A1 With the original Audi A1 having been launched in 2010, it had been a long wait for the secondgeneration model, which landed in Australia in late 2019.

The A1 is Audi’s baby – their light car that’s a size down from the A3. It’s a city car that would compete with cars like the Volkswagen Polo GTI, Citroen C3 Shine and Mazda2 GT. We say ‘would’ because the A1 is from a premium brand that buyers may view differently from the three mentioned above.

50

Plus, as the badge may suggest, the A1 Sportback is quite luxurious by the standards of most other cars its size.

This really is the A1 Sportback’s point of differentiation from other tiny city cars – it’s the cheapest new Audi, but one of the most expensive city cars.

That places the A1 Sportback in a sparsely populated area of the car market, but one with understandable appeal: a premium car, but downsized.

Also setting the A1 apart from its city car contemporaries is its 5-star ANCAP safety rating,

which is less common among cars in this market segment.

This new A1 is bigger than its predecessor and has more luggage space.

At $37,380 drive away, the A1 Sportback is not at all cheap given the small patch of road it occupies.

However, you do get a fully digital instrument cluster and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Under the bonnet in the entry level 30 TFSI is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo engine making 85kW and 200Nm. It gets the A1 along well enough and is (just) refined

enough given the expectations buyers may have, but if you splash $40,600 on the 35 TFSI, you’ll get a smoother 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine with 110kW. The range-topping 40 TFSI costs $53,000.

The A1 is impressive for its luxury, but its price does bring a range of competing options.

For example, the price of the 30 TFSI could get you a well specified and bigger Toyota Corolla. Or, for $7000 less you could have a Hyundai i30 N Line with 150kW, more space and a sevenyear warranty if you buy at the right time.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

Specifications Engine: 2.4-litre turbo diesel Power: 133kW @ 3500rpm Torque: 430Nm @ 2500rpm Claimed fuel economy 8.0L/100km Price: fr $45,990 drive away ANCAP safety rating 

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport In the first half of 2020, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport was the fourthbiggest selling large SUV after the Toyota Prado, Toyota Kluger and the Isuzu MU-X. But it also sold more than the Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9 and Subaru Outback.

Earlier this year, the Pajero Sport had its first major update since its launch in 2015. Most obviously, the front end styling was updated to match that of the Triton ute.

There’s also been changes

Horizons / October-November 2020

to the rear lights (they now don’t go down as low as on the original Pajero Sport), and the power rear tailgate can now ‘sense’ the vehicle driver approaching and open automatically.

In the large SUV category where the Pajero Sport sits, there are two distinct large SUV types – road-biased SUVs and those with full offroad driving ability. The Pajero Sport fits into the latter group.

in rear-wheel drive only, four-wheel drive with high gearing, four-wheel drive with high gearing and the centre differential locked for more challenging conditions, and four-wheel drive with the centre differential locked plus low gearing for when the going gets really tough.

It has a separate transfer case with low range gearing for off road situations like crawling over large rocks.

The suspension also has the articulation needed to do that sort of driving. This means the wheels can move through a big range of angles to ensure the wheels stay in contact with the ground, maintaining grip and helping you progress through the rough stuff.

In fact, the Pajero Sport allows the driver to run

A trade-off of all this wheel articulation and off-roading

ability is a higher floor than you typically get in large road-biased SUVs, thanks to their more compact suspension configurations.

Deploying the third row seats is a two-stage operation that needs both hands, which is more complicated than in most urban-focused SUVs. The Pajero Sport is based on the underpinnings of the Triton ute, meaning it has the same 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine, which is smooth and quiet by these standards.

Loaded with safety gear, the Pajero Sport is one of the best-value four-wheel drive wagons out there.

51

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MOTORING

Ask the

Car doctor

Our experts answer your questions

Win free fuel Send us your question for the Car Doctor and if it’s published, you’ll receive a $50 fuel voucher to use at any Puma location Australia-wide, thanks to RAC Member Benefits.

Send your questions to editor@rac.com.au or post to The Car Doctor, Horizons GPO Box C140, Perth WA 6839 Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number with your question.

I drive a 2016 Mitsubishi ASX that stalls when cold. Ever since new, on cold start-up and reversing out of the carport, the car stalls and has to be restarted once or twice. We have had valve de-carbonizing treatment done and only use 95 RON fuel. We have reported this to the dealer who says this is “not a known problem with the model.”

What can we do from here?

Andrew, Nedlands Firstly, check whether your vehicle was included in the October 2017 product recall of Mitsubishi ASX, Lancer and Outlander vehicles. They were recalled due to a fault with a power relay which caused it to generate excessive heat and eventually fail, resulting in the engine stalling during driving. Go to productsafety.gov.au and search for recalls under ‘transport’ and the sub-category of ‘cars’, then the recall dated 16 October 2017. If your ASX is not part of this recall, there could be a fault with the cold start valve, the engine temperature sender or the electrical circuits associated with these. If your vehicle is still under

warranty the manufacturer should rectify the issue with a repair. More information on this can be found on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.

I will be unable to drive my car for around nine weeks due to surgery. Is there anything I should do with the car while it’s not being driven?

I have heard about disconnecting the battery, but others have said not to do that as it will reset all the electronics.

Mark, Mount Lawley We’d recommend not disconnecting your car’s battery for reasons similar to those you’ve outlined. To ensure your battery remains in good condition, it could help to connect a smart battery charger to your vehicle. These are relatively compact and can be connected without causing significant obstruction around the vehicle. Also, if you have a friend or relative who could take your vehicle for a 30-minute drive every two weeks, it would help keep other systems in your car, such as brakes and tyres, in good driving condition.

If your question is chosen for publication, please allow up to eight weeks for delivery. See page 73 for terms and conditions of entry.

I drive a 2015 Subaru WRX. Recently I found that when I press on the accelerator, I can’t accelerate with any power. Subaru tell me the problem is with the air intake runner but can’t tell whether it’s the driver or passenger side. They say I have to order both the driver and passenger side parts to replace them. Each part costs $1300 and will take 6 – 8 weeks to come from Japan. Is there any way to find out whether the fault is on the driver or passenger side?

Chris, Noranda It sounds like the cause of the problem still needs to be fully clarified. However, it could be an issue with the tumble generator valve, which is a device designed to reduce emissions.

Take the vehicle to at least two other vehicle workshops for a second and third opinion. An independent workshop may also be able to source the required replacement parts at a lower cost.

RAC members can take advantage of our Motoring Advice Line. If you have a motoring question, call 6150 6199 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm to speak to one of our experts.

Horizons / October-November 2020

53

YO U R R A C

People, places, prizes and RAC news

Community spirit builds a vibrant shared space

Djiljit Mia, in the town centre adjacent to Dugalup Creek, was built on degraded crown land which has now been transformed into a cultural interpretative space, incorporating Aboriginal artworks, sculptures and nature-based play features.

An 18-month community project in Dunsborough has seen the creation of a unique community gathering place and nature playground.

The project was partly funded by RAC’s Connecting Communities Fund, which supports projects that contribute to more vibrant, active, engaged and sustainable communities.

54

The RAC funding went towards the construction of one of the Park’s sculptures of a Wadandi Elder fishing with his son.

Trish Flower, from the Dunsborough and Districts Progress Association, who had the initial vision for a gathering space, said it was a community-wide effort.

“The community have planned and constructed Djiljit Mia together.

It’s been a grassroots project.

“The name means ‘fish home’ so the whole idea of the Park was to have an Aboriginal theme that paid tribute to the original inhabitants, the Wadandi people, who used to place fish traps out in Geographe Bay.” The park is now open to the public.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

YO U R R A C

Are your home renovations covered?

If you’re taking advantage of the Federal Government’s HomeBuilder grant to renovate your home, it’s a good idea to discuss your home insurance policy first.

The HomeBuilder scheme will give eligible owner-occupiers a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home.

Before you get started, it’s important to tell your home insurer of any changes you intend to make to your building so they can advise you of how it will impact your insurance cover.

referred to as underinsurance, means you may need to cover some replacement or rebuilding costs yourself if you make a claim.

If your home is insured with RAC, use our building calculator at rac.com.au/renovations to help you estimate what it would cost to replace your building.

If you’re considering the HomeBuilder scheme, get in touch with us on 13 17 03. or more information, check F the PDS at rac.com.au

The value of your alterations will lead to changes in the overall sum insured of your building, so your policy may need to be updated or a new one issued.

Not having adequate cover on your insurance policy, also

Sounds like your car needs a service Often, it’s not what you see but what you hear that can alert you to a problem with your car.

While determining the exact cause of any rattles, squeals or clunks isn’t always straight forward, there are some noises you should pay attention to.

If you hear a whining or squealing sound when you put your foot on the brake, that indicates your brake pads are due for replacement. There’s a piece of metal embedded in your brake pads specifically to make that noise, so you know it’s time for new brake pads.

If that noise is ignored for long enough, you’ll start to get a much more alarming sound that’s more like grinding or scraping and that’s a far more urgent and dangerous problem. It means metal is contacting metal inside the brakes which should be attended to straight away. It also means your car is unroadworthy.

A squealing sound from under the bonnet could mean the drive belt

Horizons / October-November 2020

on your car’s engine is slipping.

Typically, this belt drives the air conditioning, water pump and power steering. This will need to be repaired by a mechanic.

A knocking sound coming from your engine when accelerating could indicate you’ve used a lower octane fuel than that recommended for your car, such as 91RON in a car that should use 95RON. Using a lower octane fuel than recommended can damage your car’s engine and if it’s still under warranty, any required repairs would not be covered.

Whining or grumbling sounds could indicate an issue with a number of different components including the differential, wheel bearings, gearbox, or power-steering pump.

Whatever you’re hearing, don’t ignore it. Listen carefully so you can describe it to your mechanic.

When you do need a service, RAC Auto Services have nine sites across WA, or we’ll come to you with our mobile mechanic. Book on 13 17 03.

Securing your security cameras Security cameras can provide important additional protection for your home, especially if they are internet connected, allowing you to remotely view live and recorded footage via an app on your mobile device.

Although the risk is small, any connected device that uses an Internet Protocol (IP) could be exploited if the household doesn’t practice good cyber security habits.

Not all internet-enabled security cameras have the same security features, so it’s important that you choose your cameras carefully and fully research the product specifications.

You can also reduce any risks by adopting good security habits, including: Using a strong password and updating it regularly.

Turning cameras off when not in use.

Turning off remote access when not needed.

Ensuring your home wireless network is properly password protected.

Doing software updates on all devices that access the cameras when available.

Using a licensed professional to supply and install your cameras will ensure you have the appropriate encryption software and password protection authentication.

RAC Security can help you choose the security cameras that are best for your home. To find out more, call 1300 132 735 or visit rac.com.au/security

55

YO U R R A C

Spot the difference See if you can spot the differences in the RAC Little Legends Club® road safety scene below.

Spot the difference

RAC Little Legends Club® is a free and fun road safety program for kids. When they join the club, kids get their own membership card with access to RAC’s great benefits and discounts.

Can you spot the differences between these scenes? Challenge yourself to find all 7!

For more fun activities and to join RAC Little Legends Club® for free, visit rac.com.au/puzzles

Can you spot the differences between these scenes?

Challenge yourself to find all 7!

Can you spot the differences between these scenes? Challenge yourself to find all 7!

Spot the difference A

A

A 20

20

56

ANSWERS: Street sign speed limit; Flutter the magpie; Mel’s helmet; Bollard colour; An extra cloud; One road stripe removed; Tree has been removed.

B

October-November 2020 / Horizons

Make the most of the great everyday savings you get as an RAC member. Whether it’s discounts on travel, fuel, gas for your home, pharmacy, groceries, entertainment, dining or RAC products and services – RAC members save every day.

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*Subject to obligation-free site visit. Other depths & pump configurations recommended/available as required depending on your location & depth to water. Assumes electrical & reticulation connection nearby & accessible, up to 10m cable and pipesite run.

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Contact us The Royal Automobile Club of WA (INC) 832 Wellington Street, West Perth GPO Box C140, Perth WA 6839 tel: 13 17 03 rac.com.au Member Service Centres – Metropolitan Carousel Shop 1098, Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Hwy. Dianella Shop 20, Dianella Plaza, 360/366 Grand Promenade.

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Terms & conditions Car Doctor, page 53 Entrants may submit more than one entry. Up to three entrants (winners) will be awarded only one prize as follows: one $50 fuel voucher to use in one transaction at any Puma Energy location Australia-wide. The prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. Entries that do not, in the absolute discretion of the panel of judges, comply with these requirements are invalid. The winner will be notified by email, telephone or letter. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided details as to the collection of their prize. Entrants published in October/November 2020 Horizons must claim their prize by 18 November 2020.

In the event that no contact details are supplied, or RAC cannot make contact with the winner, the prize may be withdrawn at the absolute discretion of Horizons magazine. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy and security statement and group privacy policy.

Winning Letter, page 8 Entrants may submit more than one entry. One entrant (winner) will be awarded only one prize as follows: a year’s Classic Roadside Assistance valued at $183. If the winner already has Roadside Assistance, the Classic Roadside Assistance will be applied as credit to their account until their cover runs out. Entries that do not, in the absolute discretion of the panel of judges, comply with these requirements are invalid. The winner will be notified by email, phone or letter. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided details as to the collection of their prize. Entrants published in October/November 2020 Horizons must claim their prize by 18 November 2020. In the event that no contact details are supplied, or RAC cannot make contact with the winner, the prize may be withdrawn at the absolute discretion of Horizons magazine. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy and security statement and group privacy policy.

Member Service Centres – Regional Albany 110 Albany Hwy. Bunbury Shop 32, Stirling Centre, Stephen St. Geraldton Shop 8, Stirlings Central SC, 54 Sanford St. Kalgoorlie 51-53 Hannan St. Travel Centres Applecross Shop 2, 14-16 Riseley St. tel: 1300 657 681 Carousel Shop 1098, Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Hwy. tel: 9365 4700 Dianella Shop 20, Dianella Plaza, 360/366 Grand Promenade. tel: 6466 2300 Joondalup Shop T31, Lakeside Joondalup SC, 420 Joondalup Drive. tel: 9308 1600 Mandurah Shop SP037, Halls Head Central, 14 Guava Way. tel: 6150 6456 West Perth 832 Wellington St. tel: 9436 4830

Full terms and conditions for competitions available at rac.com.au/competitions

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19 Pearson Way, Osborne Park (08) 9242 7333

2/17 Gordon Road, Mandurah (08) 9479 3232

73

YO U R R A C

Ten best

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Things to do in the Perth Hills Araluen Botanic Park

The Park is located on 59 hectares of native bushland in Roleystone and features thousands of exotic plants, including more than 100,000 tulips that bloom each spring putting on a spectacular show of colour. The Park was originally a youth holiday camp established in 1929 and still contains many of the log cabins from this time.

Fruit picking

Many orchards around the Perth Hills open their doors for visitors to pick their own fruit. There’s a great variety on offer including apples, citrus fruit, cherries, pears and pomegranates, with something in season all year round. It’s a great family day out and lots of fun for the kids to pick fruit fresh from the orchard.

Mundaring Weir

The Weir is the start of WA’s historic Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail - a remarkable infrastructure project still considered one of Australia’s greatest engineering feats. Visit the Number 1 Pump Station Museum at the base of the Weir to find out more about the pipeline. The south side of the Weir has a shaded grassed picnic area with barbeques.

Perth Observatory

Perth Observatory is WA’s oldest observatory operating for more than 120 years. The Observatory, located in Bickley, runs a large number of tours and events throughout the year, including night tours where you can explore the night sky through powerful telescopes, and guided day tours.

Bibbulmun Track

WA’s world-renowned long-distance walking trail, the Bibbulmun Track, begins in the Perth Hills at Kalamunda.

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ABOVE: Lesmurdie Falls in Lesmurdie Falls National Park.

It’s a great place to start a walk through the Darling Range, going through Kalamunda National Park, the outskirts of Helena Valley and crossing Mundaring Weir. There are some excellent views over the hills from some sections of this northern end of the Bibbulmun Track.

Galleries

The Perth Hills are dotted with galleries and studios showcasing the work of local artists. The Zig Zag Gallery at the Zig Zag Cultural Centre in Kalamunda holds exhibitions throughout the year featuring painting, photography, textiles and sculpture, in a modern gallery space.

Wildflower trails

There are plenty of great locations to view spring wildflowers in the Perth Hills. Take one of the short walks through Lesmurdie Falls National Park. At Whistlepipe Gully it’s an easy walk through Mundy Regional Park to view wildflowers where dogs are also permitted on lead, or follow a walk trail at Ellis Brook Valley Reserve to spot some of the more than 550 varieties of wildflowers on show there.

Weekend markets

With an abundance of orchards, the Perth Hills also has a vibrant market scene, where you can pick up everything from local fresh produce to artisan wares. Try the Kalamunda Farmers Markets on a Sunday morning, the quarterly Roleystone Markets, or the Perth Hills Artisan Markets in Mundaring.

Mountain bike trails

Mountain bikers are spoiled for choice in the Perth Hills, with a vast network of tracks covering all experience levels, set against a spectacular backdrop.

Trails wind their way through both state and national forest right across this area. The 1000km off-road cycle trail, the Munda Biddi Trail, also begins in the Perth Hills at Mundaring.

Waterfalls

The Hills have a number of easily accessible waterfalls, including the spectacular Lesmurdie Falls, Hovea and National Park Falls in John Forrest National Park, and Serpentine Falls in Serpentine National Park where you’ll also find other smaller falls along the Park’s walk trails.

October-November 2020 / Horizons

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