Self-driving car forecasts speed up after Tesla launch
Australia could become a major testbed for autonomous vehicles if efforts to develop a national set of road rules for their use are successful.
safety of citizens
Taking the wheel: drivers may soon supervise their cars
Self-driving cars are being tested on Australian roads but motorists and experts are divided about whether they will drive greater safety or greater problems.
People prioritised as wildlife-killing shark nets stay
Only about 10 per cent of animals caught up in the nation's largest shark net program were targeted species, a report reveals following a fatal attack.
Thousands of electric SUVs recalled over injury risk
One of Australia's most popular electric vehicle brands has been subject to a product recall over a fault with one of its safety systems.
Vicious cycles: national push to slow electric bikes
Cycling groups say high-powered and illegally modified e-bikes are increasingly being used in Australia and stricter, national rules are needed to save lives.
No ‘idle threat’: childcare on notice as reforms agreed
Education ministers have agreed to a national CCTV trial in childcare centres, a workers register and mandatory training as providers are warned to shape up.
Childcare reforms count on tech too much to stop abuse
Childcare workers will be placed under greater monitoring and supervision but experts say deeper issues within the sector are enabling predatory behaviour.
Lost trust prompts swift overhaul for childcare checks
A state premier has promised to overhaul childcare safeguards after admitting parents' trust has been shattered by "horrific" allegations of abuse.
Call to slow city traffic amid rising pedestrian deaths
More pedestrians are being killed in road accidents across the nation, figures have revealed, leading calls for urgent speed limit reductions.
AI-powered, heat-seeking satellites target Aussie fires
Bushfires in the Northern Territory are among the first captured by an artificially intelligent satellite designed to detect and record danger from above.
Pedestrian tragedy sparks elderly driver test review
A state government is considering rule changes for elderly drivers after a female pedestrian was killed and a man and child seriously injured in a car crash.
Man fights for life as elderly driver rules questioned
There are calls for national testing rules for elderly drivers after a car driven by a 91-year-old driver ploughed into two adults and a child, killing a woman.
Calls grow to back safety over access in childcare
After shocking allegations of abuse, parents have grown hesitant to send their kids to childcare, prompting calls to prioritise child safety rather than access.
‘No other option’: desperate plea from stranded Aussies
As Australians return home from the Middle East, a family stranded in Iran says it has no way to flee after receiving advice to cross international borders.
Women’s ‘safety premium’ for solo travel peace of mind
Women travelling solo are paying more for safer accommodation and tours as the travel industry adjusts to a growing cohort of those going it alone.
Strip clubs to education hubs hacked in password grab
Online criminals have compromised thousands of websites, including those of Australian businesses, in an attempt to steal users' passwords.
Plea for drivers to stop taking risks as deaths soar
The road toll in one state spiked by 10 over a deadly Mother's Day weekend as authorities beg "entitled" motorists to stay safe.
How AI is being weaponised to attack Aussie businesses
Australia is among the world's biggest targets for online attacks and artificial intelligence technology is making intrusions harder to detect.
Aussies prompt politicians for real action on AI rules
More than two-in-three Australians want restrictions on artificial intelligence technology, but the issue has not been raised in election campaigning.
Is it down? Strict rules for telcos that suffer outages
Phone and internet users will be given more details when their services drop out under rules imposed on telecommunication providers.
Safety over politics: motoring groups call for change
Australia's peak motoring body will encourage its 9.5 million members to challenge federal election candidates on road safety, amid calls for more transparency.
Aussie invention may cut the cost of self-driving cars
A single camera powered by artificial intelligence software could help drive future autonomous cars, slashing thousands of dollars from their production cost.
Aussie road rules are not ready for self-driving cars
Road rules will need to be changed before autonomous vehicles become more common, or lawsuits could follow.
China conducts second live-fire drill near New Zealand
A Chinese warship has conducted a second live-fire drill in as many days, according to New Zealand navy personnel.
AI pioneers look to douse bushfires before they happen
Machine-learning technology could become the next weapon against bushfires with researchers developing a prototype delivering more accurate predictions.
Ten-year national road safety plan ‘wildly off-track’
Increases in Australia's road toll over the past four years have been at a level not recorded since 1966, before the introduction of seatbelts.
‘Be careful’: safety plea following holiday drownings
A spate of drownings during the festive season has left authorities urging Australians to prioritise safety around the water during the summer holidays.
Party hard but party safe: Aussies set to welcome 2025
Australians are set to ring in the New Year but revellers have been urged to party with a plan to ensure a night to remember - not one to forget.
Bushwalker deaths and rescue prompts safety warning
Police are warning bushwalkers to be prepared before they set out on their treks after two men died in separate incidents and another pair needed to be rescued.
Smartphones still driving professionals to distraction
Calls, messages and apps are even getting the best of paid drivers, a study has found, amid a call to introduce surveillance and safety alerts behind the wheel.
Water alert as lifesavers try to stem record drownings
Lifesavers are calling on Victorians to be prepared and brush up on water safety before they go swimming, as they launch their summer patrol season.