New analysis by insurer AAMI shows Northbourne Avenue has knocked the Monaro Highway in Tuggeranong off the top of the list, recording 34 accidents between October 2012 and September 2013.

In the same period, Benjamin Way, Belconnen, recorded the second highest number with 31 accidents.

Canberra Avenue at Fyshwick and Gundaroo Drive in Gungahlin recorded 30 accidents each, while Commonwealth Avenue in Canberra recorded 28.

Spokesman Reuben Aitchison said the insurer used data from almost 250,000 accident insurance claims nationwide, finding heavily congested roads in capital cities lead to driver frustration.

“Canberra Avenue in Fyshwick is heavily congested and many motorists become impatient waiting to get onto this stretch of road from Geelong Street," he said.

"However, thankfully new lights are being put in soon which should help improve things.

“Gundaroo Drive is another interesting road with relatively high speed limits up to 80kms and constant merging and de-merging traffic lanes which is most certainly a key contributing factor to accidents on this stretch.”

The study found roads around suburban shopping centres were among worst for accidents involving drivers in Sydney and Melbourne.

Nose-to-tail accidents make up more than 27 per cent of accidents resulting in insurance claims, followed by bingles in car parks, drivers failing to give way, crashes with a stationary object and accidents while reversing.

Meanwhile, Attorney-General Simon Corbell announced double demerit point penalties would apply during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

“Double demerit points will apply to speeding drivers from Friday 20 December 2013 to Wednesday 1 January 2014 inclusive,” Mr Corbell said.

“Drivers who commit other offences such as running red lights, failing to stop at stop signs or using a hand held mobile phone while driving will receive one extra demerit point on top of the usual number given.”

Mr Corbell said police would target speeding.

“Speeding is one of the main causes of road deaths and serious accidents. If drivers exceed the speed limit this Christmas and New Year period by more 15 km/h and up to 30 km/h, six demerit points will be applied.

"Exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h or more during this period will result in 12 demerit points being applied and the risk of licence suspension,” said Mr Corbell.

As part of the AAMI survey, the insurer asked 3726 Australian drivers to detail their accident history, finding about a quarter of motorists had been involved in an accident within the past five years.

Almost one quarter of the accidents were described as avoidable.

Only 6 per cent of the study’s respondents said speed was a contributing factor to their accidents, down from 11 per cent over the previous year’s study.

Almost half of drivers said other motorists were to blame for their accident, but 23 per cent admitted they could be more careful.

A total of 28 per cent of drivers admitted to being distracted or suffering a loss of concentration behind the wheel, and male drivers were 50 per cent more likely than women to admit distraction caused their accident.

“Smart phones and technology are major distractions for motorists and pose a serious safety issue on our roads,” Mr Aitchison said.

“We know that many young drivers regularly read and send text messages, tweet, update their Facebook status and astonishingly even read e-books while driving.

“However, it doesn’t matter if you’re adjusting a [satellite navigation system] or looking out the window, allowing yourself to be distracted and take your eyes off the road, even for a split second, is incredibly dangerous for you and everyone else on the road.”