road safety

Plenty has happened in the world of car news over the last 24 hours. If you haven't had time to read all the news on CarAdvice.com, catch up on your way home with Car News Daily, as James Wong reads each news story word-for-word. Today's download includes: Listen to the CarAdvice podcasts: iTunes | Pocket Casts (Android, iOS, web) | RadioPublic | Omny | Stitcher | TuneIn

Harsher penalties for New South Wales drink and drug drivers come into force on May 20, with drivers facing instant licence loss for even 'low-range' offences. Update: This story has been updated, as the laws come into force on May 20. It was originally published with the headline: 'NSW passes tougher drink driving penalties'. The opening par has been adjusted.

A new advertising campaign aimed at curbing driver distraction will hit screens shortly, with research showing the number of people caught using the phones illegally on the roads has climbed 20 per cent in the last four years. According to research from NRMA Insurance, a whopping 41,809 people were caught using their phones during FY2017/18, up from 35,370 in FY14/15.

Mobile phones and driving don't really mix: it's illegal to touch your smartphone in the car, even while stationary, and distracted driving is a known killer. A new study from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) put subjects through their paces using their mobile phone, hands-on and hands-free, to further explore the technology's impact on driver behaviour.

With over one million caravans and trailers registered in Australia — plus another 12 million in the USA — it's crazy to think that advanced braking technology isn't yet the norm. Tech giant Bosch is looking to change that, this month taking the wraps off a system that implements stability control for trailers. No surprise, caravan owners are the brand's target market.