In this day and age where consumers are concerned about green house gas emissions there is now alternatives for you. You have the right to purchase a green friendly car. This can consist of a hybrid or electric vehicle. Some people have opted for scooters or to use public transport more often or even ride a bicycle to work.

At Madison Finance we are aware that consumers are concerned about the state of our planet and accordingly we have adjusted our business practices to ensure that they are more green efficient. We email all correspondence to you to eliminate wasted paper. This way you can print off only the documentation that you need to sign. Any requests that you have in the future, such as payout figures are also emailed to you. Not only does this provide you with the knowledge that paper is not being wasted but it also allows for an expedient service.

For fast approval on equipment finance you can’t look past Madison Finance. With experienced equipment finance brokers on hand to guide you, financing equipment has never been so easy. We can tailor an equipment finance package to suit your needs, circumstances and budget. We have access to a large number of lenders thus providing you with the greatest range of equipment finance products.

As experienced equipment finance specialists we are aware of which lenders to use for any given equipment finance requirement. We are familiar with what special deals are being offered by each financial institution at any one time. As we are kept up to date with ongoing promotions and financiers requirements, we are in the best position to put your finance application forward to the most suitable lender for an expedient approval and settlement.

Salary packaging is of great benefit to employers and employees alike. As an employee you can buy the car that you desire from your pre-tax income. As a result, you save tax and you have the benefit of driving the car of your dreams. By salary packaging your vehicle you can save thousands of dollars in tax every year. Not only that, your employer may allow you to salary package your partner’s vehicle. Imagine being able to drive two cars that you wish for, from your pre-tax income. As an added bonus you can also claim all running costs of these vehicles, such as fuel and servicing from your pre-tax income. You really can save thousands of dollars each year on tax.

From an employer’s perspective providing salary packaging to their employees creates an incentive for prospective employees and helps to retain existing staff. There is no longer a need to keep company cars on hand which saves time on purchasing and maintaining the vehicles as well as freeing up car parking.

To find out more about salary packaging or to receive an obligation free quote contact a Madison Finance representative on 1300 887 967.

New road rules for Victoria came into effect on 9th November. The new road rules are aimed at providing improved road safety and reduce deaths and serious injuries. The rules will also make road rules within Australia more consistent. The new road rules are as follows:

• Mobile phones – can only be used if they are not handled I.e. the phone’s body is not to be handled by the driver at any time. The phones can only be used for making and receiving calls, operating the GPS and audio/music functions. Texting, emailing and video calls are strictly prohibited. The mobile phone is not to be handled at any time, even if you are not using it, and this includes resting it in the driver’s lap. Learner and P1 drivers are prohibited from using a phone at all.
• Visual display units – such as a dvd player are not to be used if any part of the screen is visible to the driver and/or is distracting to the driver. A driver’s aid such as a GPS can be used only if they are built into the vehicle design or are secured in a commercially designed holder.
• Child restraints – all children under the age of seven must wear a child restraint or booster seat. You will need to ensure that your child is fitted with the correct restraint according to their age, weight and height. Children under the age of four must not sit in the front seat where there are two or more rows of seats. In the event that all other seats are being used by children under the age of seven, then a child between four and six may travel in the front seat, provided they are using the correct child restraint or booster seat.
• Centre dividing lines - you can only cross a single continuous centre line if you are entering or leaving the road or to avoid an obstruction. You can’t overtake or do a U-turn over a single continuous line or a double continuous line.
• Motorcyclists – must not carry a passenger under the age of eight years unless in a sidecar and the sidecar must only carry the number of passengers for which it is designed. No animals are to be carried between the rider and the handlebars of the motorcycles.
• Cyclists – must wear an approved bicycle helmet and sit on a proper seat when ride the bicycle. A driver must stop at the first line of a bicycle box whilst a cyclists must stop at the second line within the bicycle box. When turning left within a bicycle box ensure that you are in the left lane of the reserved area. If turning right you must be in the right lane of the reserved area. If there is no reserved area a standard right turn can be used by signalling and turning from the right hand turn lane. Alternatively a rider may perform a hook turn from the left lane.
• Scooters, skateboards and roller blades - are called Wheeled Recreational Devices (WRD) in the road rules. A WRD can travel on footpaths and roads where the speed limit is 50km per hour or less. A WRD can not be towed or slipstream and must not be used on the road at night. A scooter rider must where an approved bicycle helmet.
• Road safety rules – a driver must stop at the first stop line of an intersection and must not enter the area for cyclists when the traffic light is red. If a driver is blocking a driveway, the driver is only allowed two minutes to pick up or drop off passengers and must not leave the vehicle unattended. A driver must not have another person or animal on their lap. If two vehicles are using are travelling in the same marked lane ie, two cyclists or a car and a motorbike, and one vehicle diverges to the left or right within the marked lane, the diverging vehicle must give way.
• Tram rules – when sharing the road with trams, a driver must stop before passing the rear of a stopped tram at a tram stop. Once the tram doors are closed and pedestrians have crossed between the tram and kerb, a driver may then proceed at no more than 10 kmh past the tram. Unless there is a sign which permits parking, a driver must not stop or park within 20 metres of a tram stop. Tramways will be introduced in Victoria. These will clearly be displayed with a sign of a tram and the word ONLY underneath there will be two continuous yellow lines or raised dividing strips for these areas. This means that a driver is not allowed to drive in a tramway.

There are a number of new rules so it would be wise to familiarise yourself with them. Visit www.roadrules.vicroads.vic.gov.au for futher information about the new road rules.

The weather is hot, hot, hot and so is the newly released Lexus convertible. It is a fantastic car to be driving around during these warmer months and you’ll be looking great too. The Lexus IS250c is a four-seat hardtop convertible which folds effortlessly into the rear giving it a sporty look.

Four adults can seat relatively comfortably and the boot space is equivalent to that of a sedan when the roof is up, however, it is minimal whilst the roof is down. It handles beautifully on the open road due to its chassis balance. Fuel economy isn’t too bad for general commuting but in hilly areas it requires more fuel consumption due to the heavy load on top.