The AAMI Crash Index analysed more than 360,000 motor insurance claims across Australia from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, to reveal the top 10 crash hotspots in each capital city, the most common crash types and who is most likely to be behind the wheel.
Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth delivered new leaders to the top of their ranks this year, with Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart’s leaders holding onto their dubious crowns. Darwin made its debut in the Crash Index, but it was bad news for the Stuart Highway which claimed four of the top five hotspots, plus six in the top 10.
There were some big movers such as the Bruce Highway at Caboolture soaring up nine places from tenth to first position in the River City and unpredictable Adelaide welcoming a huge seven new sites to its ranks.
Sydneysiders did not need to guess too hard as to who took out their number one spot, with the Hume Highway at Liverpool named the city’s worst crash hotspot yet again, a title it has held for seven of the past eight years.
Nose-to-tail collisions were the most common type of crash at almost all top hotspots, except Hobart, where carpark dings reigned supreme. In Darwin: failure to give way, carpark dings and nose-to-tail crashes were all as likely as each other.
While the most likely day of the week for crashes varied across state borders, Thursdays proved the most common with afternoons between 1pm to 4.30pm the most common time. Males and drivers aged 35-49 were the most likely to be involved in a crash at most number one hotspots, according to AAMI data.
While each state’s hotspots had their unique nuances and challenges, AAMI’s Head of Motor Claims Anna Cartwright said there was a common thread.
“The majority of our top 10 hotspots are highways or busy arterial roads intersecting with local streets through high traffic industrial and shopping precincts,” she said.
“This means lots of vehicles are on these roads at various times of day – entering, exiting and merging – and vigilance is key.
Ms Cartwright said while COVID-19 lockdowns did bring with them a dip in crash numbers due to less cars on the road, they bounced back quickly.
The AAMI Crash Index, which has been running since 1994, highlights the top crash hotspots across the nation’s capital cities to raise awareness of crash locations and reinforce the importance of road safety.
For further information: AAMI Crash Index