SDT Safe Drive Training

15/07/2026

What are you looking at

a) part of a vehicles fuel system after the standard diesel was subjected to low temperature and froze (so not winter diesel)

b) the result of accidentally filling a diesel fuel tank with Adblue and driving until the vehicle mysteriously stopped

Whatever your response it’s unfortunately a $20,000 repair for an entire new fuel system including injectors.

14/07/2026

Having an each way bet

Well my ongoing battle with the NRMA continues. They either don’t see the illogical situation they have created or are deliberately ignoring it.

Quick history

A few month ago, grubs stole the wheels off our car trailer parked inside Willowbank Raceway. An insurance claim was made and initially denied on the basis our company insurance did not cover trailers used for business purposes. This was a joke. Eventually NRMA paid the claim and refunded our policy for this year. They said if we needed insurance on this trailer we needed to arrange coverage for business usage. But the business division at NRMA said whilst they cover trailers for business, they do not cover driving school trailers.

So then I sought a refund of all trailer insurance paid over recent years.

But yesterday they denied this based on their assertion my previous policy provided coverage.

But they are having an each way bet here. Either my trailers were uninsured as they were not covered for business usage, or because they were used for driver training they were not covered. Their own actions and statements over recent months show coverage was very unlikely to have existed over the past years.

They seem to think they can argue both ways at the same time.

NRMA Insurance

12/07/2026

Good communication

One of our part time instructors is also a long haul truck driver.

He had this interaction with highway patrol on a trip.

11/07/2026

Rat sh straps

You can see the ratchet straps fail before the concrete blocks leave the truck.

The autonomous emergency braking of the truck triggers (see its hazard lights trigger) when the ute merged in front (or cut the truck off)

Some very lucky bystanders here.

10/07/2026

09/07/2026

Do you know what PPM is?

I see so many vehicles coming towards me with the front glass covered in the internal fogging caused by PPM. Do these drivers realise their vision (especially at night and in the rain) is compromised!

08/07/2026

Coming to Australia?

🇪🇺 BREAKING: The EU today introduced a new requirement for all new cars registered in Europe to have cameras installed that film the driver’s face.

The system, called Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW), is part of the EU’s General Safety Regulation.

The camera tracks the driver’s gaze, head movements, and attention.

According to the regulations, the system must be active from 20 kilometers per hour. At lower speeds, it should be able to warn if the driver looks away for too long, while the requirements become stricter at higher speeds.

The requirement does not yet mean any obligation to record the driver for the authorities.

Critics warn that the technology could pave the way for more extensive monitoring and recording in the car once the cameras, sensors, and software are installed.

07/07/2026

Sounds expensive

I did an identical drive in similar traffic conditions. Firstly in a 6 cylinder turbo diesel 110 Defender. Then the follow day on the same route in a V8 Petrol one, which was a loan car from the dealership.

The eco driving scores were very different.

96% in my car with 4.9 out of 5 for smooth braking, 4.8 out of 5 for accelerating and efficient speed management.

Only 93% in the V8 with equally smooth braking score but lower scores for acceleration and speed management.

Now to determine was the difference in driving

a) the theatre (thundering noise)
or
b) the fact the V8 wasn’t mine
or
c) a bit of both.

The V8 burnt 4 litres/100km more for a 4 minute slower trip.

BTW> No speeding or shenanigans were undertaken.

07/07/2026

Hands at 10 and 2

The Lexus RZ with its optional yoke steering wheel is now on sale in Australia.

Imagine a 10 and 2 wheel operator having to adapt. Easy you say? We regularly train drivers in their early 20’s who cannot (I repeat cannot) use 2 hands anywhere on the steering wheel due to their ingrained muscles memory of steering one handed at all times. It would be rather comedic to see them have to alter their steering to suit the yoke wheel.

For the record 9 and 3 is the best position for hands on the wheel. Search our many posts on steering, attend a course, read our book or watch our eLearning for steering tips.