SDT Safe Drive Training

18/10/2026

Practical questioned

This post from the NSW Government created fierce debate.

Too many thought the answer was obviously A.
Some steadfastly put their foot in the their mouth by confirming it was A and there could be no other answer.

Those that knew the correct answer was C were also heckled.

If indicating compromises control of the vehicle like on a small roundabout or risks a collision, then it is not practical and not required.

A bit like stopping on an amber light, it is required if safe and practical to do so.

17/10/2026

Two sided

Tyres have two sides and if the inside edge is wearing out prematurely a driver might not know about it until a mechanic informs them or the tyre fails.

This is because their lazy or ineffective approach is to only visually look at their tyres.

This is why we teach drivers to rub their hands across a tyres flat surface to feel for irregular wear.

16/10/2026

High and Low

The sales team from Nu Farm completed a 4WD High Range and Low Range course with us.

The dirt circuit at Willowbank was used in the morning and then our property at Boonah was used in the afternoon.

One participant admitted they thought it was going to be boring and within 10 minutes they realised the day was much different to what was expected.

16/10/2026

The Triton was frightened

At our 4WD off-road course near Boonah the innocuous and shallow looking dam hides a deep hole where many vehicles have been bogged before. Gravity did its thing and the driver looked worried as the vehicle jumped in.

15/10/2026

Swapsies

I didn’t know this was possible.

The speed camera operator was charged with dangerous driving and his employers vehicle (the speed monitoring vehicle) was impounded.

However the speed camera vehicle was released and the camera operators personal vehicle was swapped in (even though it was not used in the incident).

A 67-year-old Road Safety Commission employee is accused of driving recklessly as he passed a road train in his speed camera car in WA's Wheatbelt, causing an oncoming vehicle to swerve off the road.

15/10/2026

Trailer safety

Participants from the Electrical Safety Office completed the practical component of the Safe Driving Trailers course this morning at Willowvank Raceway.

Online video modules were also completed.

This is the 3rd group that has attended.

SDT is a provider to QFleet (the Queensland Government fleet)

15/10/2026

Safer students

25 participants from Nanango High School attended a defensive driving course with us at Willowbank Raceway earlier this week.

The course was funded by Heritage Bank Nanango.

13/10/2026

Geez racetracks are expensive

Having hired the following circuits for events or training

Mallala
Calder Circuit and Thunderdome
Eastern Creek (entire complex)
Morgan Park
Queensland Raceway
Surfers Paradise Raceway
Sepang Circuit

I have seen and paid some large numbers. But some recent enquiries to our office resulted in me checking venue prices and left me seeking a lie down.

Current pricing depending on day of week

Qld Raceway: $7450 - $18,650 per day
Morgan Park: $4000 - $17,000 per day

Sydney Motorsport surely being 50% more.

These prices are just the circuit hire fees, there are extras if timing, medical, catering or additional facilities are needed.

Over $20,000 being the typical Sunday price.

Generally to book a facility requires full payment in advance and in some cases no refund from the date of booking.

Now I understand these prices make sense for events with spectators paying admission and catering and merchandise sales helping recoup the investment.

But they are much harder to rationalise for track days unless you are going to run 50+ cars. They are unaffordable for driver training for small groups (especially when the kicker is no insurance for the vehicles while on track).

To have a smaller intake of 24 entrants and make money, a track day would need to be $500+ per person on a weekday.

Many tracks now run their own days and undercut the track hirer by absorbing the track hire and getting some income for their empty days. Plus running hot lap experiences on the side.

12/10/2026

Well we were ahead of the game.

It was 2006 and we started a drift school at the Mt Cotton Training Centre.

Real drift cars were supplied.

Then the centre management banned drifting and we moved the experience to Willowbank.

When the RACQ took over the Mt Cotton complex drifting remained banned and all vehicles had to be registered. Cars had to remain a half track apart.

Now they allow drifting and cars with harnesses and no number plates. Hydraulic handbrakes are fitted. And side by side sliding is allowed.

No complaint, just noting the complete change of the rules by the RACQ.

Diesel is still being used as the lubricant despite the RACQ promising to rebuild the skidpan.

Get onboard for a slide. But be aware 4 laps is less than 2 minutes of fun.

BTW> And no don’t ask if we will be starting up again. We got banned for complaining about venue safety issues. The wind seems to change direction regularly at this venue. A least the RACQ is pro tandem drifting and pro 200km/h driving (at another new program) on their tree lined training circuit.

12/10/2026

Get control

Imagine crashing because you weren’t using the correct vehicle mode to maximise traction. Likewise imagine damaging a vehicle because you were using the wrong mode on the wrong road surface.

Many Mitsubishi 4WD vehicles (Pajero, Pajero Sport and Triton) feature the Super Select II system. Lower spec base models have a simpler version.

2H mode sends the engine power to the rear wheels. This mode is used on high grip roads and improves fuel economy.

4H mode sends the engine power to all four wheels providing 4-wheel drive grip.

Importantly in this vehicle (because it has a centre differential) 4H can be engaged on high grip roads. This helps when the road is wet or when towing. Note in many open back utilities (Ranger, Hilux, BT50) 4H cannot be engaged on high grip surfaces, due to the vehicle not having a centre differential. Transmission windup would occur and expensive damage would result.

Note 4H in the Mitsubishi 4WD vehicles with Super Select II does provide engine power to all 4 wheels while the vehicle has traction. But if any one wheel slips and spins, all the power will escape through the spinning wheel. In theory the other 3 wheels will no longer drive the vehicle, although traction control and suspension articulation will help to prevent the one wheel spinning.

4HLc is the mode used on lower grip roads like gravel, sand and mud. The ‘Lc’ stands for lock centre differential. So now engine power is split 50/50 between the front and rear axles. To become stuck (bogged) the vehicle would need to spin both a front and rear wheel.

All of these modes (2H, 4H, 4HLc) can be switched between while driving. Provided the accelerator pedal is not being used. Note the driver needs to ensure the road surface suits the mode being engaged.

Stability control and traction control are available in these modes.

For tougher off-road conditions. The driver can stop, select Neutral and then engaged 4LLc which is four-wheel drive low range with the centre differential locked. Stability control might turn off at this time. Or if the vehicle has terrain select the driver can choose between, rock and sand/mud modes. This will change how sensitive the accelerator is and alter how intrusive the stability control is.

All of this and so much more is taught in our off-road course, featured in our Safe Driving in PNG book, and modules in our online 4WD course cover this is much greater detail with videos showing the viewer each scenario.