Horizons by RAC Podcast

If you’ve ever wondered why traffic lights change the way they do - or why freeway speeds suddenly drop - this episode breaks down what’s really happening on our WA roads. Ruth Callaghan speaks with Scott Fennelly from Main Roads WA about the intelligent transport systems (ITS) working behind the scenes 24/7 to keep people and freight moving safely and efficiently across the network. From Smart Fr...

In this episode, Ruth Callaghan speaks with Carla Hoorweg from ANCAP SAFETY about the rise of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including autonomous emergency braking, lane support, and driver-monitoring technologies. The conversation explores driver experiences with systems such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane support, blind-spot monitoring, and driver-monitoring technology....

Does reducing a speed limit by just 10km/h really make a difference? When WA reduced local street speed limits from 60km/h to 50km/h in 2001, pedestrian crashes in Perth fell dramatically. Now, as more councils consider 40km/h limits on local roads, the debate around safer speeds is back in focus. In this episode, David Elston (RAC Manager Road Safety Policy) and Tim Judd (PJA Road Safety Engineer...

On this episode of the Horizons by RAC Podcast, four roadside assistance Patrols come together to celebrate a century of helping West Australians when they need it most, and the stories they share prove RAC’s Roadside Assistance has always been about far more than fixing cars. Malcolm, April, Richard and Sean have spent decades on WA roads, from Perth’s busiest freeways to remote country backroads...

Since he was a kid riding in the back seat of his parents’ car looking out the window, Ronny Dahl has always wondered where the roads lead. That curiosity eventually turned into a life on the road — and today he stands as one of Australia’s most well-known 4WD adventurers. With years of experience exploring some of the most remote and extraordinary corners of the country he proudly calls “the best...

What began as a normal day on the water in Western Australia’s Geographe Bay, quickly became a fight for survival. In this episode, 13-year-old Austin Appelbee relives the terrifying moment he, his mum Joanne and his siblings (aged 12 and 8) became lost at sea - and his gruelling four-hour swim that followed to save his family. Joanne shares the unimaginable choice no parent should ever have to ma...

Thinking about hitting the road in a caravan but not sure where to start - or what you actually need? In this episode, Myke Bartlett chats with Mike Sandilands (Driver Risk Management & Caravan expert to Horizons by RAC YouTube) to break it all down. From trying before you buy, to choosing the right vehicle and finding a setup that suits your lifestyle and budget. They also unpack the realitie...

After a life-changing diagnosis, Britt and Wade Williams knew something had to change. So, they sold everything, packed up their lives with their two young boys—Nixon and Thomas—and set off to travel Australia indefinitely in their caravan. Join Myke Bartlett as they discuss navigating life on the road—working remotely, homeschooling, budgeting, and learning the realities of full-time family van l...

At just 17, Rob Pike’s life changed forever in a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of 3 of his friends and left him with catastrophic life-altering injuries. From tragedy, Rob has now become a powerful voice for road safety, sharing his story to educate and inspire young drivers and audiences everywhere. On this episode, he talks with Mandy Walsh about the consequences of split-second d...

In 2025, RAC proposed a 20-year general insurance partnership with IAG, Australia’s largest general insurance company. The partnership was proposed to keep RAC insurance sustainable, competitive and focused on members for the long haul. So, what led to this decision? What does it mean for members? And what can we expect over coming months? Ruth Callaghan sits down with RAC Group CEO Rob Slocombe t...

For generations caravan parks have been at the heart of the West Aussie holiday - road trips, sandy feet, camp kitchens, and that unmatched sense of freedom, and today, they’ve evolved into a new era of modern holiday parks! What’s driving the renaissance? Why are WA travellers hitting the road in record numbers? Are parks raising the bar - or are travellers demanding more? What do familiesexpect...

We’ve all had a crack at a Western Australian road trip, but how many of us have tried to visit every single town on the map? Meet the WA photographer who’s doing exactly that. Myke Bartlett sits down with Aaron Green — an electrician by trade and the man behind Lands Unseen, an ambitious solo mission to document every town and ghost town in WA! From well-known regional centres to barely marked do...

As grid electricity prices continue to rise and governments look to accelerate home battery adoption through subsidies and incentives, many households are asking the same question: does investing in solar and battery storage really pay off? On this episode of the Horizons by RAC podcast, Jason and Bronson unpack how modern solar and battery systems work, what’s changed in recent years, and the key...

Hikers Robyn and Patrick share a firsthand account of a multi-day hike along the Stirling Range ridge that took an unexpected turn. One small misstep led to an injury that saw Robyn onboard RAC Rescue, they join us to share their story. The RAC Rescue helicopters are sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Guests: Robyn...

As Western Australia transitions toward cleaner transport, EVs continue to dominate the conversation. But according to Hyundai’s Senior Manager of Future Mobility, Scott Nargar, the road ahead won’t be powered by a single technology. Hydrogen is likely to play a crucial complementary role, particularly in a country as vast and freight-reliant as ours. Guest: Scott Nargar, Hyundai Motor Company Aus...

Western Australia is a paradise for lovers of the outdoors, our diverse beauty, rugged landscape and isolated coastlines are unmatched. But it’s also most unforgiving.   The heat can cripple you within hours, help can be hundreds of kilometres away and poor preparation is the number one cause of preventable emergencies.    So, what should you do if you find yourself stranded or lost?    To help an...

Driver fatigue is a term often associated with those spending long hours behind the wheel, such as drivers in the freight industry and those undertaking long road trips, whether for leisure or work. But driving a vehicle while impacted by sleep loss is a much wider issue in the community, including over short distances. The Sleep Health Foundation estimates that more than half of Australian adults...

We’re in our cars every day — to work, school, the shops — and most of the time, we don’t even think about getting there. Our minds switch to autopilot. But sometimes, all it takes is a moment’s distraction or a break in routine, and that autopilot can short-circuit leading to a child or pet being left behind in the car. And when it’s hot, the temperature inside a vehicle can double in minutes, wi...

From illegal mobile phone use and unrestrained kids to spot speeding, unlicensed vehicles, even caravans pushing past the 100km limit — Western Australia’s new road safety cameras are watching it all. Rolled out in January this year and powered by the latest AI technology, they’ve already snapped more than 275,000 drivers doing the wrong thing. In this episode, we sit down with the WA Road Safety...

In July 2025, six people lost their lives in separate crashes in Western Australia all within a 48-hour period. In 2024, there were 188 fatalities on WA roads, which was recorded as the worst year in nearly a decade, with 30 more deaths than in 2023. For some years now WA has had one of the worst road fatality rates of any State. On average over the 2020 to 2024 period, three people were killed ev...

Days before his daughter was born, surfer Greg Robbins had a freak ocean accident that saw him onboard RAC Rescue. Greg joins us to recount his story. The RAC Rescue helicopters are sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Guest:  Greg Robbins – surfer from Margaret River, WA Subscribe and share   If you liked this episod...

An average day at work on a Donnybrook property became a race against time as Graeme Fry lay trapped, alone, and severely injured after a quad bike rollover. For 10 hours Graeme lay pinned under a 400kg quad bike as he drifted in and out of consciousness in an isolated paddock in Western Australia’s South West. The massive weight on his legs was slowly killing him. Many years on from his accident,...

How does pop culture influence the desirability of a vehicle? Does nostalgia change our perception of classic vehicles? And why do enthusiasts race classic cars despite the risk of an expensive mistake?  Classic car enthusiast Simon McGrath joins us to chat about the cultural, market and social forces behind classic car ownership, and the cars making an impact now to become potential future classi...

In this episode we talk to WA's Road Safety Commissioner, Adrian Warner, and RAC's Manager Community Programs, Des Duguid, to discuss the highs and the lows of eRideables in WA. We cover their uptake, road rules and other restrictions (and how they’re being broken), injury rates, and the recommendations from a recent eRideables review in WA. In December 2021, eRideable devices, such as e-skateboar...

In 2014, the Toyota Corolla wasn’t just Australia’s best-selling small car, it was the top seller out of all vehicle categories. By 2024, it had been knocked back to 7th among Australia’s top 10 best-selling vehicles, with the six above it all being utes and SUVs. The next non-SUV or ute in the top sellers list was the Kia Cerato down at 19th. So why are we super-sizing our cars? This episode will...