Suncorp Group insurance brand AAMI has revealed its list of worst vehicle crash sites across Australia, with several new locations taking the unfortunate title of “worst crash hot spot” in their respective regions.
The 2022 AAMI Crash Index analysed more than 350,000 motor insurance claims across Australia to reach its conclusive list of the top crash hot spots in each capital city. Topping Adelaide's list this year is Prospect Road in Prospect, while Gympie Road in Chermside topped Brisbane's. Both locations are new to the AAMI crash index's leaderboard. Canberra, Darwin and Hobart, who also welcomed new leaders to the top of their ranks.
This year also saw some of the biggest moves up the leaderboard in the index’s history. The number-one hot spots in both Adelaide and Darwin have come from outside the top ten in 2021. Hobart’s Davey Street climbed seven spots to claim the unwanted title of ‘worst crash hot spot’ in Tasmania's capital city.
Sydneysiders won’t be surprised to learn that the Hume Highway in Liverpool maintained the title for worst crash hot spot, alongside Melbourne's Plenty Road in Bundoora and Perth's Albany Highway in Cannington. All three locations have maintained top-ranking spots since the 2021 crash index.
While each crash site features unique challenges and contributing factors that lead to frequent road accidents, there was a common thread among all the entries. “A majority of the top hot spots identified are highways or busy major arterial roads, that intersect with local streets through high traffic industrial, educational and shopping precincts, meaning they are consistently busy throughout the day,” said Anna Cartwright, AAMI’s head of motor claims.
AAMI's data also identified nose-to-tail style collisions as most common type of crash at almost all hot spots. The data also reveals afternoons, between 1 and 4.30pm, as the most common time for accidents, with almost one-third of accidents occurring during this timeframe.
One positive finding from the 2022 report is that collisions at Plenty Road Bundoora have steady declined over the past five years. To address years of collisions at this site, the Victorian government has implemented a speed reduction trial, which has led to permanent change.
“We know that speed is undoubtedly a key factor, and by sharing data insights with the Victorian Government, we’re thrilled that the trial has resulted in a permanent lowering of the speed limit from 80km/h to 70km/h. We hope the reduction in speed will continue to reduce crashes and finally knock Plenty Road Bundoora off the top of our hot spot list,” AAMI said in a statement.
AAMI has been releasing road accident and collision data for 28 years to highlight the importance of driving safely and vigilance to motorists, particularly in accident-prone locations. It said most risks on the road can be mitigated if people pay attention and drive to the conditions.
“All it takes is a split second of not having your eyes on the road, missing one stop or ‘give way’ sign, or diverting your attention to something other than the task at hand, for things to go wrong,” Cartwright said.
