Nightmare car parks to avoid this holiday season
Revealed: The shopping centre car parks where you’re most likely to have a prang this silly seasonThere’s one sure-fire way to avoid a parking prang this holiday season and it’s to simply stay home, according to new research from insurance company AAMI.
Unfortunately, for most of us, it’s much too late to be staying home and online shopping for Christmas gifts. But with so many still flocking to busy shopping hubs, AAMI has revealed the most accident-prone hotspots you should do your best to avoid.
In other words, hit up a shopping centre in a different suburb, if possible – or take public transport.
Taking the top spot for the most accident-prone suburb – for the third year in a row, no less – is Victoria’s Doncaster, with the Westfield shopping centre in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs best avoided.
In NSW, Chatswood was listed as the worst for car park prangs, while Queensland’s hotspot is Maroochydore. Others to avoid include Modbury (SA), Baldivis (WA), Kingston (Tas), Belconnen (ACT), and Casuarina (NT).
The insurer analysed more than 22,000 claims from October 2023 to September 2024 to pinpoint the most bingle-prone areas. December was the worst month for incidents, racking up 2659 car park collisions Australia-wide, closely followed by November with 2323.
According to AAMI, incidents in December are around 36 per cent higher compared to the monthly average for the period.
As you might guess, Saturday was found to be the worst day to hit the mall, although Friday and Thursday weren’t far behind.
While AAMI says Sunday is a pretty good day to go, there are peak times best avoided on any day of the week, the worst of which is between 1pm and 4:30pm.
Mornings between 6am and 9:30am are also bad for prangs – perhaps because some drivers are still half-asleep – while peak evening shopping hours (between 4:30pm-8pm) are also times to stay home.
The insurer says research around the behaviours of Aussie drivers found some of the key methods used to avoid car park prangs include driving slowly, parking in less crowded areas, and taking extra time to find a parking spot.
Almost a third of drivers surveyed said they rely on sensors and parking cameras to avoid accidents while more than half (52 per cent) avoid the shops altogether, opting for online.
AAMI’s tips
- Be like Santa – check it twice:?Pay special attention to cars moving in and out of parking spots to avoid a collision (look for reversing lights!) and double-check blind spots when pulling out.
- Better watch out:?Be extra vigilant around pedestrians, especially near entrances, exits and crosswalks.
- Silent night:?Avoid all unnecessary distractions like your phone while driving.
- Making spirits bright:?In darker car parks, use your headlights even if you wouldn't normally, increasing visibility for yourself and others.
Hotspot suburbs by state/territory
- NSW – Chatswood, Miranda, Castle Hill
- Victoria – Doncaster, Ringwood, Chadstone
- Queensland – Maroochydore, Indooroopilly, Carindale
- Western Australia – Baldivis, Joondalup, Innaloo
- South Australia – Modbury, Oaklands Park, Mount Barker
- Tasmania – Kingston, Glenorchy, Rosny Park
- ACT – Belconnen, Greenway, Gungahlin
- Northern Territory – Casuarina, Palmerston, Alice Springs
Related: Study: Most males think they’re better than the average driver
Related: Top tips for travelling with kids over Christmas and the New Year
Related: How to festivify your ride this Christmas
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