Australia’s worst crash hotspots revealed

The 2021 AAMI Crash Index is out and it shows the most common car accidents in most capital-city hotspots remain nose-to-tail collisions involving males aged 35-49 between 1:00-4:30pm on Thursdays.

That’s based on data analysed from more than 360,000 motor insurance claims made to Suncorp Group’s network of insurance brands (AAMI, GIO, Apia, Shannons, CIL, Vero Insurance, Bingle and Essentials by AAI) between July 2020 and June 2021.

First released in 1994, the AAMI Crash Index highlights the top crash hotspots across the nation’s capital cities to raise awareness of crash locations and reinforce key road safety messages including slow down, allow space, follow the conditions and keep your eyes on the road.

Nose-to-tail collisions were the most common type of crash at almost all top hotspots, except Hobart where carpark incidents were most common, and Darwin where failure to give way, carpark prangs and nose-to-tail crashes were equally as common.

AAMI’s head of motor claims Anna Cartwright said the majority of top 10 hotspots are highways or busy arterial roads intersecting with local streets through high-traffic industrial and shopping precincts.

“This means lots of vehicles are on these roads at various times of day – entering, exiting and merging – and vigilance is key,” she said.

“Motorists need to pay full attention and adhere to the basics like maintaining a safe distance behind the car in front and always being aware of what is happening around you. All it takes is for you to take your eyes off the road for a split second for things to go wrong.”

Cartwright said COVID-19 lockdowns reduced crash numbers because fewer vehicles were on the road, but they bounced back quickly.

“What we did notice during lockdowns this year and in 2020, was a shift in traffic dynamics,” she said.

“People were out of their normal routines, working from home and driving less, so in some cities, those major arterial roads that were usually clogged up with people driving to and from work, university and school were not being used as much, and instead we found local suburban roads becoming the site of more collisions.

“It goes to show that it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of security, and that even a short trip to the shops can put us as risk of a crash if we’re not paying attention.”

While Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth had new top crash hotspots in the past year, the same old sites remained top in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart.

And while the Stuart Highway claimed four of the top five hotspots and six of the top 10 hotspots in Darwin, which made its index debut in 2021, the Bruce Highway at Caboolture soared nine places from 10th to first in Brisbane.

The Hume Highway at Liverpool was named Sydney’s worst crash hotspot again – a title it has held for seven of the past eight years – while Adelaide welcomed seven new locations to its list.

More than half of all crashes (57%) at Hume Highway in Liverpool were nose-to-tail collisions, with Fridays being the most common day (20%), and afternoons between 1:00-4:30pm the most common time (38%).

There was an even split between males and females, with Sydneysiders aged 35-49 most likely to be involved in a crash at this location (38%), according to AAMI’s claims data.

Road Suburb 2020 Rank Change

Plenty Rd in Bundoora was named Melbourne’s worst crash hotspot for the fourth consecutive year.

More than half of crashes (56%) there were nose-to-tail collisions, with Tuesday and Thursday the most common days (each 18%), and mornings between 9.30am-1:00pm the most common time (31%).

Male drivers (47%) and Melbournians aged 35-49 (31%) were most likely to be involved in a crash at this location, according to AAMI’s claims data.

The Bruce Highway at Caboolture has taken the title as worst crash hotspot in Brisbane, speeding up the ranks from 10th last year to number one in 2021.

Nose-to-tail collisions were the most common type of crash in this location (35%), Sunday the most common day (22%) and afternoons between 1:00-4.30pm the most common time (33%).

Males (48%) and those aged between 35-49 (23%) were the most likely to be involved. 2021

Rank Road Suburb 2020 Rank Change

The Monaro Highway at Hume has taken back its title as the worst crash location in Canberra, up from second last year.

Nose-to-tail collisions were the most common type of crash in this location (29%), Monday and Thursdays were the most common days (each 18%), and afternoons between 1:00-4.30pm and evening peak hours (4.30-8:00pm) were the most common times (each 25%).

Males (45%) and those aged 35-49yrs (27%) were most likely to be involved in collisions along the notorious stretch of road.

2021 Rank Road Suburb 2020 Rank Change

South Road at Edwardstown had taken the title as the worst crash hotspot in Adelaide, speeding up the ranks from fifth position last year, to number one in 2021.

Nose-to-tail collisions were the most common type of crash in this location (52%), Tuesday the most common day (24%), and mornings between 9.30am-1:00pm and afternoons 1:00pm-4.30pm the most common times (each 38%).

Males (62%) and motorists aged 35-49 (38%) were most likely to be involved in a South Road collision. 2

2021 Rank Road Suburb 2020 Rank Change

Argyle Street has once again taken out the title as worst crash hotspot in Hobart.

Car park dings were the most common type of crash in this location (42%), Mondays and Thursdays the most common days (each 22%), and afternoons between 1:00-4.30pm the most common time (49%).

Females (47%) and motorists aged 35-49 (31%) were the most likely to be involved in an Argyle Street crash.

2021 Rank Road Suburb 2020 Rank Change

After slipping down to third position in 2020, the Albany Highway at Cannington has reclaimed its name as Perth’s worst crash hotspot.

Nose-to-tail collisions were the most common type of crash in this location (57%), Saturday the most common day (25%) and afternoons between 1:00-4.30pm the most common time (34%).

Males (49%) and motorists aged 35-49 (28%) were most likely to be involved in collisions at this location.

2021 Rank Road Suburb 2020 Rank Change

The Stuart Highway has taken out four of the top five worst crash hotspots in Darwin with the Coolalinga stretch claiming the number one position.

Nose-to-tail collisions, failure to give way and carpark dings were equally the most common type of crash in this location (each 16%), Wednesday the most common day (38%) and afternoons between 1:00-4.30pm the most common time (38%). Females (62%) and those aged 35-49 (31%) were most likely to be involved.

2021 Rank Road Suburb