Up My Nose

The traffic on the M4 cheeses me off. Also, I hate the people that go down the brake down lane. They should have speed humps or some sort of zigzag so they have to go slow in the brake down lane.

Also, people that go in and out of the lanes and end up behind you, or one or two cars in front, they get up my nose too.

Maria from Erskine Park, NSW

Fuel Price Control

I BELIEVE THAT THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO STOP FUEL SUPPLIERS FROM INCREASING THE PRICE OF FUEL WITHIN ONE DAY. IT IS FUNNY THAT ON ONE DAY THE PRICE IS ONE PRICE, AND WITHIN A FEW HOURS THE PRICE IS 10 TO 15 CENTS PER LITRE HIGHER. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. PRICES SHOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO RISE BY UP TO 5 CENTS IN A 24-HOUR CYCLE. IT IS ALSO FUNNY THAT THE PRICE TAKES 4 OR 5 DAYS TO GO DOWN TO THE LOWEST PRICE FOR THE WEEK, BUT IT ONLY TAKES HOURS TO GO UP THE HIGHEST PRICE. GOVERNMENTS SHOULD STOP THIS HAPPENING BY POLICING THE PRICE AT THE PUMP.

Bruce from Ingle Farm, SA

Fuel Prices

As your site is about finding the cheapest fuel prices for us, (very happy I am about that, I can tell you), please can you explain to me, taking into account the fact that QLD Gov has an 8 cents a litre fuel subsidy at the bowsers and Australia has a bucket load of crude oil that we suck out of Bass Strait and refine in our own refineries, why then is this 'Lucky Country' locked in to Opec oil prices per barrel, governed by rich sheik countries, (I am also led to believe that petrol prices in those countries, at the bowser is almost nothing). Sure doesn't make any sense to me!!!

Noel from Helensvale, QLD

The Price of Diesel

With fuel being a necessity, the public are being "HAD" by the Government and the Fuel Companies. If you go back to yesteryear, the price of diesel was about the same price of gas and approximately 50% of Super and Unleaded. Diesel is the first by-product of oil, with Petrol further down the track in the refinery process, so how can it be dearer?

The government has a "clean up the environment policy" by using alternative fuels, and as a result of this people have changed over to diesel vehicles (especially in the country) and now that they have done this, the price goes up and creates a "windfall" within treasury. Will they eventually give some of this money back to the people who put it there in the first place? I think NOT.

I understand that the price is determined by the cost of a barrel of oil as determined by Opec, but Australia can supply 70% of their own, so why be a member of Opec? Is it just for good relationship? Taking into consideration of the above, I believe the fuel companies and the government are very hypercritical.

How's about a reasonable price of fuel in Australia!!

Adrian from Worlds End Highway, SA

Using Brakes wastes Fuel

Did you know that every time you use your brakes you actually use more fuel. This is an indirect effect of continuing to drive up to a stopping situation eg red traffic lights or a stop sign, and then braking hard.

If instead, as soon as you see a situation ahead that requires you to slow down or stop, you immediately take your foot off the accelerator and coast to a stop as much as practicable you are saving the fuel you would have used in continuing to drive then brake to a stop.

The brakes always convert energy to heat and that comes from your expensive fuel - use them as little as is safe to do so. Your brakes and tyres will last much longer too.

Peter from Adelaide, SA

Roads - Passing Lanes

I do a lot of driving throughout Australia and a couple of areas where Queensland falls down very badly;

1. there are insufficient passing lanes on most Queensland Highways, particularly through mountainous regions, D'aguilla Highway, Gore Highway Bruce Highway North of Gympie and the list goes on.

2. Signage is poor once you leave major population areas and distance markers are just about non-existent on Queensland roads. Other states have good signage, distance markers and passing lanes on their highways, why is Queensland dragging the chain?

Robert from Seven Hills, QLD

Cheap Fuel vs. my time and patience

I live in Sydney near the City and have given up using service stations offering 4c off. It’s just not worth lining up in the driveway, then lining up again inside to pay for the sake of saving an average of $1.60!

If these guys are for real, they should look at employing more staff to handle the extra workload.

Tony from Matraville, NSW

Fuel Comparisons and Advantages

Like most Australians about to select a new car, I have been beguiled and enchanted by the "crossover" vehicles, which allow versatility and flexibility with respect to number of passengers, loads carried and features.

I am particularly smitten with the Award Winning, Aussie one. However, the main thing holding me back is the negative trait of these vehicles being Petrol Guzzlers! I know that diesel is hugely popular in Europe, but relatively rare in Oz.

Would someone please explain the difference between:
1. Petrol, Diesel and LPG;
2. Effect on performance and longevity of the vehicle;
3. Potential $ savings?

Charlotte from St. Kilda, VIC

BP Ultimate Fuel

Went to put some BP fuel at the local station and noticed that the price difference has now jumped between 9 and 10c for BP ultimate fuel compared to BP unleaded fuel. Previously there wasn't such a price gap only 6-7c apart now its gone further up..

They claim better fuel etc but how about letting the customer know as well that it has risen a few cents more.. Used to be BP Unleaded for example: 102.9 BP Ultimate 109.9 now its 102.9 for bp ulp and 1.12c for bp ultimate...

highway robbery ..........

Suzi from Burwood, NSW

Three Point Turns

When making each of the three turning phases of a three-point turn, always turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction when nearing the end of that phase, whilst the vehicle is still in motion.

The steering wheel is then in the correct position to take to the second phase or second point of turning and should be repeated, i.e. turn the steering wheel again in the opposite direction, whilst the vehicle is still in motion.

This enables a smooth turn without having to fight against the steering wheel, as the tyres are always easier to move whilst the vehicle is moving and not at a standstill. Of course, the final stage again gets repeated.

Using this method also, gives a better turning result in a much tighter situation.

Mark from Buddina, QLD

Outrageous Fuel Prices

As someone who runs their own business and been on the road all day. I was just wondering why is the oil companies allowed to dictate fuel prices.

Last September when I started to work for myself Diesel was between 80-90 cents a litre. Diesel is basically the first product of the line, but where as all the other fuels need to be refined. In my opinion anything that does not need much work to be done it that is labour cost wise why is it so much more expensive than all other fuels when at one stage of the game diesel WAS much cheaper to purchase.

I own two vehicles that run on diesel which is more economical to run and in the long I feel that we are being punished.

Kyle from Boronia Heights, VIC

Street Racing

I watched A Current Affair the other night with interest. The article was about the young kids/adults (rev-heads) street racing and doing burnout / donuts on the streets of Sydney.

A couple of them had been killed on the streets of the Rocks and Police were patrolling the area after the event to stop this from happening again.

The young hoods were rude to the Police, swearing and singing, "Old MacDonald had a farm" and oinking at the Police. They were egging the Police to come and fight with them. They had no respect for authority at all.

The Police have been giving them defect notices on their cars and large fines but it doesn't seem to stop them from using the roads of Sydney as racing tracks.

They even showed a couple of them prang into each other and they thought it was a joke. I think the only way to teach these young ones a lesson is to hit them were it hurts.

Confiscate their cars for a few weeks so they can't use them and make them pay a huge fine to get the cars out after the allotted amount of time.

Susan from South Penrith, NSW

Fuel Prices

Hi. Here are my comments about fuel. Well we all complain all the time about the price of fuel, whether it is 90 cents or 1 dollar and 5 cents. Well we are lucky.

My sister works in northern South Australia where fuel is 1 dollar 50 cents a litre. That’s right $1.50! I don't think we can complain about our fuel prices.

Phillip from Bardon, Qld

Driver Training

How many more lives are going to be lost before something is done about the lack of people going to driver training schools. I was lucky enough that our school encouraged all students to participate and organised a company to visit the school (I might add it was a public school).

By my school doing this it allowed me to develop life saving techniques and realise exactly what I was and wasn't competent at while driving. I might add that I have used these skills every time that I have driven. I believe that it should be compulsory for all learners to complete one of these courses before they are let loose on the road!!

One of the most important things my Dad told me was I'm not worried about your driving skills; it’s everyone else’s that you need to be aware of!!

Leanne from Cooroy, QLD

Watch Out for Low Stumps

Last week after my son's football game I reversed out of the parking spot to race to the my daughter's netball game. As I did I hit a stump that was below my level of vision. I was mortified driving my husband's car with a huge scrape down the side. He took the news well and sorted out a quote.

The following week my husband took our son to football and as he left he hit the same stump with bigger damage. The side was actually pushed in and we couldn't open the passenger door.

Next day back to the panel beaters....I was relieved to know it wasn't just me!

Lisa from Holland Park, QLD

Can't afford to go anywhere

As a family I find that will the way our fuel prices are going up and down all the time lately I can't plan a holiday or anything as a family because I do not know how much the fuel for the trip will cost us.

I am always worried that if something happens to one of my children will I have the fuel in my car, even if I allow so much out of my pay for the fuel what happens if the fuel price goes up and then my budget has blown out. I just wish the fuel prices would stay at around the one price so then us as families could plan when we can take our family out without blowing our budget.

Is there companies that have notice a down fall in business due to all this fuel price rising, as people can not afford extra things as all our money goes into filling our cars?

Sally from Morayfield, QLD

Most Trips Can Be Done Electrically

I have an electric Daihatsu Charade, which I use for all travelling up to about 50kms.

I bought it from the CSIRO earlier this year just before fuel started to get expensive. The timing couldn't have been better. It will easily do any legal speeds. You do not have to worry about shortening the life of exhaust systems or motors that don’t get up to operating temperature-it is not relevant for electric vehicles.

The cost of motoring is low. We are not connected to the grid and have a solar powered electrical system. In the sunnier times of the year our charging energy comes from the sun. The rest of the time it comes via a natural gas powered generator, a 4-cylinder side valve Morris engine. Natural gas does not have the same cost volatility as petroleum based fuels and is a "local product".

Unfortunately you cannot buy a straight electric car in Australia. You can convert one however. A hybrid such as made by Toyota or Honda is the next best.

David from Sandringham, VIC

Where does Australian fuel come from?

I was watching a stock market report the other day. The commentator said that crude oil used in Australian refineries is brought in from Indonesian waters.

If this is correct, why do the stock market reports highlight the cost the yanks pay per barrel for crude bought from the Saudis? We consume fuel here so why not tell us the full story for Australia?

Morrell from Ingleburn, NSW