Revealed: Most dangerous Aussie cities to drive in during peak hour

While none of us is Jackie Chan or Chris Tucker – no matter how much we may want to embrace our inner police detective – this doesn't make rush hour any less dangerous according to research by Right2Drive.

The new findings, which analysed the 2024 Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) and state government accident data, showed that rush hour, otherwise referred to in Australia as peak hour, is a risky time to hit the road.

Of course, the 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm periods are by their very essence the busiest on road as people head to work and school, or home at the end of the day, but despite the extra traffic, some cities are more dangerous than others.

Coming out on top, is the Northern Territory capital of Darwin, with 3,304 reported accidents per their 129,062 population, equating to 2.560 accidents per 100 people.

According to Right2Drive, the city’s high accident rate could be attributed to several factors, including its role as a hub for mining, offshore oil, and gas production, which boosts the amount of large industrial vehicles on the roads.

Extreme weather conditions such as monsoon seasons (from November to April) and tropical cyclones also contribute to hazardous driving conditions, with heavy rain, high winds, and debris making for treacherous roads.

Wildlife hazards and poorer road conditions further compound the risks.

Perhaps a surprising result is number two: the South Australian city of Port Augusta.

While the city had only 242 reported accidents, its population of 13,257 pushes it up among the list of most dangerous cities to be on road during peak hour.

This regional city could experience a higher accident rate due to extreme summer temperatures, strong winds, and again, a high volume of heavy vehicles, which create challenging conditions for smaller cars.

Blake Parker, general manager at Right2Drive, said it may come as a surprise to see Darwin topping the list as the most dangerous city for rush hour driving, especially compared to larger cities like Sydney.

“This highlights the importance of being extra cautious on the road, no matter where you are in the country,” said Parker.

“When driving during peak hours, it’s crucial to stay alert, especially as commuters rush to and from work. Many of Australia’s major cities feature rural roads, which are often more dangerous than urbanised areas, particularly for younger drivers.”

Number three and the second capital city to make the list was Hobart, with 1.350 accidents per 100 people.

According to Right2Drive, this may be due to Hobart’s Road infrastructure being less developed than other major cities. Limited public transport forces more people to rely on cars for commuting, while winter rainfall, frost, and occasional snow make the roads extra slippery.

Number four is the South Australian city of Victor Harbor with 1.196, or 200 reported accidents from its population of 16,720, while Brisbane came in at number five with 20,362 reported accidents (or 0.928 accidents per 100 people) out of its population of 2,189,878.

Victor Harbor’s tourist season which causes congestion on narrow roads, along with Brisbane’s tropical weather are factors behind their high rankings.

The most dangerous Victorian city to drive – and coming in at number six on the list – is the regional city of Bendigo which is not only the highest-ranking locality but the only Victorian city to feature in the top ten.

Bendigo had a reported 912 peak hour accidents, with 0.906 per 100 people from its population (100,617).

The city’s blend of rural and urban areas means a variety of road conditions, including narrow rural roads, wildlife hazards, and dust storms, which can all contribute to a higher rate of accidents. Limited public transport also increases traffic volumes, says Right2Drive.

Making up the remainder of the 10 most dangerous cities were Gawler in South Australia, Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth, meaning South Australia is the most dangerous peak hour state to drive in, based on these results.

On the other hand, Right2Drive also measured the safest cities to drive in during peak-hour with Wollongong in NSW coming out on top with just 0.002 reported accidents per 100 people.

As a suburban city with many residential streets, areas here have significantly lower speed limits compared to larger cities, allowing drivers more response time for potential hazards and therefore avoiding accidents.

Renmark in South Australia came in at number two, Newcastle in NSW was number three, Geelong in Victoria was fourth and Port Hedland in WA rounded out the top five.

The most dangerous Aussie cities to drive in during peak hour according to the research:

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