SDT Safe Drive Training

28/05/2026

Too small too close

This road safety website did a poll on what the correct space between light vehicles should be.

In QLD, the correct answer is 2 seconds.

The poll had four possible answers listed as the first four comments, but the way Facebook loads a post, only the first comment was visible unless the reader clicked on the post.

So to those with little interest, if they read the headline text and saw the one comment, they now believe 1 metre is the correct answer.

27/05/2026

Emergency rainfall lights?

(Content is from USA Police but it still applies)

With all the rain we've been getting lately, it's time for a community quiz!

Under what conditions should you activate your car's Emergency Rainfall Lights?

a.) A light drizzle
b.) A heavy downpour
c.) Near-zero visibility conditions

Head to the comments for the answer!

26/05/2026

Excess baggage needed

25/05/2026

Insurance information

Here’s a new insurance drama

Someone I know has started receiving emails demanding payment for an alleged incident back in December.

The insurance company (which is real and we have verified) has demanded payment and supplied bank details without

a) any photographs of the damage
b) no quotes for repair
c) no $ amount to pay

They want to know this persons claim number and insurance company. But why would they trigger their insurance with no proof of loss.

Despite several attempts to get evidence of the damage, quotes for the repair and information on the alleged incident, the insurance company continues to deny they need to supply such information. Their latest correspondence says they haven’t sought a quote for the repairs to the car they insure as yet.

It is all very suspicious

Any thoughts?
Anyone experienced similar?

25/05/2026

Insurance claims

For those following along the saga with NRMA has come to an end. The trailer was insured in my business name and used for business purposes. I have had several trailers insured at the same time with the NRMA. I made a claim after the four wheels were stolen and the storage pod was broken into (breaking the lock).

They denied the claim saying my policy did not cover business usage, despite being on my business account. Arguments and complaints to AFCA resulted in them paying the claim and the labour to fix the trailer. I have also cancelled my policy and been refunded prorata for this years coverage.

There was a circular process going on when depending who the sales person was at NRMA general insurance they were confused why the trailer was not covered as they said they wrote policies everyday for trailers used for business (but not used for rental or income earning like selling items or working from inside the trailer). But on a different phone call, a different salesperson said the trailer was not covered and referred me to NRMA business insurance who it turns out don’t insure any vehicles or trailers for driving schools. Which then had me thinking none of our training cars are insured, but they are insured with the general insurance division.

✅ So claim paid and canceled with full refund
✅ Vehicles are covered by NRMA general
Insurance for the business of driver instruction but would not be covered by NRMA business insurance
✅ Despite paying for trailer insurance on multiple trailers overs multiple years it turns out the NRMA do not cover trailers for driving schools or for business usage in their general insurance division.

So what was I paying for?

25/05/2026

Power pole survived

This power pole was lucky not to be destroyed today. I was shouting at the driver to look up and live.

24/05/2026

National Road Safety Week

Well that was a big week

Online driver training participants
- Trailer towing 52
- 4WD operation 30
- Defensive driving 70

Practical course participants
- Armidale: 3
- Willowbank: 34

Hundreds of other people experienced safer driving via our Fatal Vision alcohol and drug impairment goggles and driving simulators in use around Australia.

21/05/2026

See it report it

Now this call to report unsafe farm practices when seen on TV sets a new standard. From the comments on the OP it has been slammed as a “surveillance state” 1984 initiative.

And whilst not defending it, let’s consider

- The EPA has a report pollution hotline
- The Police have a report hooning campaign
- The trucking industry has a report bad drivers hotline
- Many companies have a report the driver phone number or website on their vehicles
- plus there are many whistleblower processes to confidently report illegal activity

Add to this many types of surveillance cameras monitoring speed, registration, seatbelt wearing, phone use, exhaust noise, location etc

Not to forget, we have become accustomed to posting rants about people’s behaviour and countless dashcam videos exist to shame bad drivers. These are dobbing in unsafe behaviour, not to authorities but to the court of public opinion.

Much of the nightly news is CCTV or dashcam footage of unsafe actions.

I too post photos, videos and also comment on things seen on TV that set a poor example.

So why the backlash?

Where is the line drawn and if one reporting (or call it dobbing) system exists why not others. I do compare (as I have said many times) to my time spent in developing nations. No one has the time or inclination to report unsafe practices. Eating that day and staying alive is the priority for many. Bad or dangerous behaviour is more likely sorted at the time of it occurring by those involved.

Surely our affluence has produced this monitor everyone syndrome. We have too much time on our hands and too many government personnel.

Maybe too the image of DiCaprio pointing at what he is seeing, is the mirror others don’t want to be reminded of.

What do you think?

Why is one reporting mechanism ok but another not?

If you spot unsafe farming practices on TV, in newspapers or online, you can report them in less than a minute using our quick and easy online form.

What to report:
- Quad bike riders without helmets/roll bars
- Children under 16 on adult-sized quad bikes
- Side-by-side vehicle operators not wearing seatbelts
- Any unsafe or risky farming behaviour shown in media

Media influences how people view farm safety. When unsafe actions are shown as 'normal', they can lead to real‑life risks.

Report online here: https://safeworknsw-notifications-live.app.oneblink.io/forms/unsafe-agriculture-practices

21/05/2026

Written for safety

A new book is soon to be published to help educate drivers in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

The video has more information