New AAMI data has revealed the most dangerous time to be on Australian roads is in the afternoon, around school pick-up time.
AAMI analysed 340,000 insurance claims from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 and found that between 1pm and 4.30pm was when most road accidents occurred, accounting for almost a third (27 per cent).
AAMI spokesperson Paul Sofronoff said with schools around the country starting back from today it was an opportune time to remind motorists to take special care and attention when driving through school zones.
“It’s frightening that so many road accidents are happening when children, our most vulnerable and inexperienced road users, are crossing roads in large numbers and congregating near bus stops," Sofronoff said.
“Our research suggests that too many drivers are flouting road rules and are oblivious to the dangers of speeding and driving distracted around schools, putting young lives at risk."
Despite road trauma being the number one killer of children aged 14 and under, alarming research from the Australian Road Safety Foundation found not even having children in the car is a deterrent to taking risks on the road.*
Shockingly, the research revealed more than half (52 per cent) of Australian parents admit to speeding, using their mobile phone or driving distracted while their own kids are in the car.
In fact, when it came to speeding on a regular basis, those with the youngest of children aged under 24 rated the worst (three in four), compared with 69 per cent of parents in general and 67 per cent of motorists without children.
It’s frightening that so many road accidents are happening when children, our most vulnerable and inexperienced road users, are crossing roads in large numbers and congregating near bus stops.
Australian Road Safety Foundation Founder and CEO Russell White said: “These statistics highlight a casual attitude towards risky driving behaviours, and surprisingly more so amongst parents.
“Despite all the safety messages about slowing down around schools, some parents continue to speed in a rush to pick-up their kids or beat peak-hour traffic but the consequences of this are simply not worth it,” White said.
“Sadly, we know that 1 in 2 Australians have been affected by road trauma, having either lost a loved one or known someone who has suffered permanent injury from a road crash.
“People don’t realise that speeding, even a few kilometres over the limit in a school zone, can be the difference between life and death.
The AAMI data revealed Friday to be the worst day of the week for crashes, followed by Thursday and Wednesday.