Latest news with #HusseinDia
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers warned of destructive trend on Aussie roads inflicting 100,000-tonne problem
There are growing calls for drivers to rethink their purchase of large vehicles, as the continued demand for SUVs and popularity of utes and caravans on Aussie roads contribute to a staggering tyre pollution problem in the country. More than 100,000 tonnes of rubber fragments are being added to the environment every year due to friction on Australian roads, according to a recent report by Tyre Stewardship Australia. This has been a growing issue since cars first became mainstream, but the uptick in sales of heavier and larger vehicles is simply compounding the problem. "The real issue is, as vehicles get larger and heavier, regardless of how they're powered, we see more tyre wear because of the increased weight and road friction," Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility at Swinburne University, told Yahoo News. Dia said 40 per cent of the vehicles on Australian roads are now SUVs, and they made up nearly half of all new vehicle sales last year. Simple physics dictate that larger and heavier vehicles require larger and heavier wheels, and with a tyre shedding 16 per cent of its weight over its lifetime, tiny microplastics are being released into the environment at an alarming rate. Councils are battling to reduce the number of tyre dumps with new regulations. However, Australian drivers are going through more tyres than ever, reports The Age. Electric vehicles (EVs) have also been called out for contributing to the increasing problem of tyre pollution. While EVs are heavier than petrol or diesel-powered cars due to their battery packs — up to 400 kilograms heavier, according to Dia — it's not simply a case of labelling them as 'bad'. EVs counter the environmental impact in other ways. "Braking is a big factor that increases tyre pollution and EVs have an advantage in this case," Dia explained. "They use what we call regenerative braking... If people just take their foot off the pedal, it actually starts to slow on its own. There's less reliance on braking pads, and therefore, it actually produces less pollutants." 🔦 Drivers warned as sinister trend continues to plunge highways into darkness ⚡️ Tradie lucky to be alive after ute struck by lightning while driving 🚗 Tesla couple's epic 3,400km road trip across the Nullarbor He also pointed to the overall environmental benefits of an EV compared to petrol or diesel-powered cars, including reduced air pollution and a shift away from fossil fuel reliance. "We cannot blame electrification alone for this issue, it [was] an issue even before electric vehicles were here," he said. Despite larger vehicles becoming increasingly popular, infrastructure is struggling to keep up. Yahoo News has reported on multiple incidents where increased vehicle size has caused parking frustration, like the time a Melbourne resident spotted a huge ute parked diagonally over two parking spaces in a busy car park. There have been calls for large vehicle owners to pay more tax due to worsening pollution and congestion caused by having them on the road. There is also an increased safety concern for other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists if involved in a collision with a large vehicle, due to its size and weight. Associate Professor Milad Haghani, an expert in urban resilience at the University of Melbourne, told Yahoo News in May that a large vehicle, twice the size of a smaller car, will have 16 times the impact when it comes to road damage. This is due to the fourth power law "which is a [well] known thing in pavement engineering that says the amount of damage is proportional to the fourth power of its axle weight. So if the axle weight is doubled, the impact is 16 times bigger." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
News.com.au
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘Turning point': Aussie EV growth spurt predicted on back of Israel-Iran conflict
Volatile oil prices in the wake of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran could trigger a growth spurt for EVs in Australia, one expert has predicted. With petrol prices tipped to reach $2.50 across the country in the wake of the conflict, Swinburne University urban mobility expert Hussein Dia says this could lead to a renewed interest in EVs as Aussies look for alternate energy sources. 'Petrol in some Australian cities could hit $2.50-a-litre according to some economists. As global instability worsens, other experts warn price spikes are increasingly likely,' Professor Dia says. 'What would happen next? There is a precedent: the oil shocks of the 1970s, when oil prices quadrupled. 'The shock drove rapid change, from more efficient cars to sudden interest in alternative energy sources. This time, motorists would likely switch to electric vehicles.' Professor Dia specialises in 'future urban mobility', and says strangled global oil supply leaves Australia in the lurch. 'If the flow of oil stopped, we would have about 50 days' worth in storage before we ran out,' he says. 'The best available option to reduce dependence on oil imports is to electrify transport. 'Cutting oil dependency through electrification isn't just good for the climate. It's also a hedge against future price shocks and supply disruptions. Transport is now Australia's third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. 'Now that emissions are falling in the electricity sector, transport will be the highest emitting sector emissions source as soon as 2030.' Israel attacked Iranian nuclear sites earlier this month, sparking the most turbulent period for oil prices since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The US bombing Iranian facilities this past weekend – and Iran's subdued response – bookended a volatile fortnight of trading in the commodity. Iran is the world's ninth largest producer of oil and its land border meets a crucial choke point for ships carrying oil out of the Persian Gulf; Strait of Hormuz. 'If this crisis continues or if another one flares up, it could mark a turning point in Australia's long dependence on foreign oil,' Professor Dia said. 'Australia currently imports 80 per cent of its liquid fuels, the highest level on record.' On Tuesday, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers issued a public warning to Australia's petrol companies. 'Recent spikes in the barrel price on international markets and volatility associated with unfolding events should not be used as an excuse for retailers to gouge customers or to increase prices opportunistically above and beyond the impact of events in the Middle East,' Mr Chalmers wrote to Australia's consumer watchdog. He directed the regulator to be on the lookout for petrol stations attempting to 'do the wrong thing by Australian motorists,' and implement non-justifiable charges on motorists.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Urgent call to update laws amid rise of 'silent threat' on Aussie roads: 'We need to catch up'
Smart glasses are emerging as a "silent threat" on Australian roads, with experts warning their use behind the wheel poses serious risks to safety and privacy, all while slipping through existing legal cracks. Often designed to resemble regular eyewear, smart glasses come equipped with discreet cameras, microphones and even display screens built into the lenses. While they're marketed as a blend of fashion and function, their increasing use in Australian society, including behind the wheel, is triggering concern among industry specialists. Monash University research found that 13.5 per cent of Australian smart glasses owners had used the technology while driving or cycling. Even more had recorded others without their consent, often in spaces where filming is restricted. Now, Professor Hussein Dia, an expert in future urban mobility, has joined a growing chorus of voices calling for tighter regulation before smart glasses become a subtle but widespread threat to both road safety and personal privacy. Speaking to Yahoo News, Dia admitted the situation is worse than he'd anticipated. "It is more concerning than I initially thought," Dia said. "These glasses can not only record and store video on the device itself, but when paired with a mobile app, the videos can also be sent to the cloud or even streamed live for everyone to watch." The potential risks, he said, are far-reaching. "So indeed, they are a 'silent threat' to road safety and privacy. Their rising use, including while driving, presents serious risks to road safety and personal privacy, and their use seems to be outpacing current Australian regulations. They can distract drivers, stream video in real time, and record people without them ever knowing. "It's a legal blind spot, and we need to catch up quickly." Unlike dashcams or built-in vehicle cameras, which are fixed in place, clearly visible, and generally accepted as tools for recording evidence, smart glasses are different — they're wearable, can move with the person, and often look just like normal glasses, making them hard to detect. Major brands like Ray-Ban, Meta, Amazon, and Google have all released iterations of the product. "I thought to myself, well, how do they compare to dashcams or built-in cameras that record surroundings in some new vehicles on the market today?" Dia said. "This is where it gets interesting, dashcams [are] used for insurance or enforcement purposes mainly, but smart glasses are mobile and discreet, making them far more intrusive and especially, they could be mistaken for ordinary eyewear. They can store footage, upload it to cloud platforms, or even livestream content without the subject's knowledge, creating significant privacy concerns. "Dashcams seem to have some regulations around them, and they are visible, but smart glasses allow real-time recording of anyone, anywhere, without warning. That's a major red flag for both road use and everyday public settings." Dia explained that while dashcams are accepted because they record the road, smart glasses raise serious privacy concerns because they can go unnoticed in places like shops, schools, and restrooms, capturing personal interactions without consent. He also warned that they act as a visual and cognitive distraction on the roads. Their ability to stream, record, and display content in a driver's line of sight, Dia said, also makes them potentially more dangerous than mobile phones. From a privacy perspective, the law offers little protection. "While it's illegal to touch your phone while driving, there's no clear law banning smart glass use behind the wheel. Likewise, Australian privacy laws do little to restrict individuals recording in public spaces, unless audio is involved, or the act is deemed harassing," he said. "Current privacy laws offer limited protection — in Australia, individuals are generally allowed to record in public spaces, though state-based surveillance laws vary. But most do not adequately address personal use of wearable cameras, particularly where the recording is silent, visual-only, and not clearly signposted." To address the growing risk, he's urging lawmakers to act — not only through clearer legislation but by encouraging manufacturers to build in better safeguards. "With no uniform national rules around personal surveillance in public and limited road safety provisions for wearable tech, I think we need some urgent regulatory updates that could include amendment of Australian road laws to explicitly address wearable visual displays while driving; strengthening privacy laws to account for wearable and mobile surveillance devices; and getting manufacturers involved to introduce clearer recording indicators, and restrict usage in sensitive areas," he said. "Currently, the industry seems largely relying on users to self-regulate, which is not sufficient given the increasing sophistication and miniaturisation of these devices.' "As smart glasses become more common, this won't be just a tech issue, but more so a public safety issue. Without stronger rules, action and more public awareness, we would be heading into risky territory where smart glasses risk becoming a widespread yet largely unregulated form of mobile surveillance with implications not just for road users, but for public life more broadly." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Election expected to drive confidence in electric cars
Electric vehicles are expected to grow in number and fall in price following the federal election as manufacturers and motorists gain confidence that regulations on low-emission transport will not change. Automotive experts issued the predictions on Wednesday following an election campaign in which the coalition announced plans to remove tax breaks for electric cars and repeal penalties for exceeding vehicle pollution limits. While the changes will not go ahead, other motoring groups warned the incoming Labor government would still need to make greater investments in training and infrastructure to support the industry's transition to low-emission transport. The forecasts come after a bruising election campaign for transport, in which the coalition pledged to remove penalties for exceeding emission limits under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard before they came into effect in July. The party also promised to remove fringe benefits tax exemptions for some electric vehicles that had cut their price by thousands of dollars. Changing the regulations would have made it more difficult for motorists to access and afford environmentally friendly cars, Electric Vehicle Council policy head Aman Gaur said, and voters saw through claims to the contrary. "Australians have backed cleaner, more affordable vehicles, rejecting the 'ute tax' scare campaign and plans to remove the electric car discount, which helps make the EV transition more accessible," he said. "The electorate's support for the EV transition gives manufacturers certainty around policy settings and will encourage more supply of cutting-edge low-emission vehicles to Australia." Claims that a fuel-efficiency standard would raise the price of popular utes by thousands of dollars, which have been debunked by AAP FactCheck, were clearly not accepted by the public, Swinburne University future urban mobility professor Hussein Dia said. "The evidence from overseas was that (prices) did not rise and, in cases where there was change, they were very minor changes," he said. "Now, with competition and more imports from China, this will dampen prices further." Automotive groups including the Motor Trades Association of Australia and Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce said the industry welcomed the certainty the election result provided, but they warned the government would need to assist businesses making the transition. Greater investments would be needed in "training, equipment and infrastructure," chamber chief executive Peter Jones said, particularly for independent workshops and regional businesses. "As manufacturers bring more electric and hybrid vehicles to our shores, it is essential that adequate support mechanisms are established for the entire automotive ecosystem," he said. Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, introduced in January, sets emissions limits on vehicle fleets, with a trading scheme and penalties for manufacturers which exceed them.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aussie driver confused by 'sophisticated' road feature at notorious intersection: 'Always idiots'
Confusion has erupted after footage surfaced of a traffic light at a notoriously congested Australian intersection switching from red to green — and back to red — in just a second or two. It's no secret to anyone living in Sydney's metro area that the Rozelle Interchange, in the city's Inner West, is known for its heavy traffic. Despite the spot having recently received a major upgrade, it can still be tricky to navigate, particularly during busy periods. In the video, dashcam footage shows a driver waiting at a set of lights in the right lane, hoping to merge into traffic flowing onto the Anzac Bridge from the western entrance. Just one to two cars make it past the lights as they quickly flicker from red to green, and red again, with the video ending before the motorist is able to get across. Hundreds of people responded to the footage, many sharing their surprise at the speed of the change. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Professor of Urban Mobility at Swinburne University, Hussein Dia, explained the concept is actually one employed in many parts of the country to limit congestion, particularly on motorways known for their bottleneck-like conditions. Referred to as "ramp metering", the system is a "key component of managed motorway operations", Dia said. It uses "coordination principles to reduce congestion and potential for conflicts, as the traffic from the on-ramp joins the main motorway lanes", he explained. "You can see the traffic merges near the horizon in the video." The idea is that heavy traffic entering from on-ramps can cause congestion at merge points on the main motorway. Ramp signals work by monitoring traffic flow and timing vehicle releases from the on-ramps to ensure a smoother, more efficient merge. "Usually, one vehicle is released per short cycle," Dia said. "They are implemented in many cities around the world to help ease congestion and improve safety. The ones running in Victoria have very sophisticated coordination algorithms." In fact, Melbourne's coordinated ramp metering system — part of the broader Managed Motorways strategy — uses real-time data from sensors embedded in the road to dynamically adjust the rate at which vehicles are released. This helps to prevent bottlenecks, maintain smoother traffic flow, and reduce stop-start driving, which in turn can cut travel times and improve fuel efficiency. Studies have shown that when implemented well, ramp metering can significantly improve freeway performance, with Victoria considered a national leader in this space due to its use of integrated technology and system-wide coordination. 🚘 Double typo spotted amid frustration over 'confusing' interchange 🚦 'Can't wait': Rozelle Interchange blasted 🚙 Major crackdown on drivers as 'rat-running' problem worsens Online, motorists shared their thoughts on the system. "It's ramp metering. It limits the amount of traffic that can merge to prevent the main arterial route from clogging up and slowing down," one person said. "Do they work? Absolutely. Does it suck having to sit in stop-start traffic for a while? Also absolutely." "I am kinda surprised that OP hasn't experienced these before, mustn't head out west often, at least not in peak times. They do work, sometimes. The issue I have with them is they still don't help those who shouldn't be driving on motorways to merge," said another. "They do work if people use them properly. I drive all day around Sydney and there's always the idiots that just ignore them and sail on through," commented a third. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
