Impatience, roundabouts and stationary objects are getting the better of Canberra's drivers and are among the leading causes of traffic crashes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nose-to-tail crashes and parked car dings were the most common collisions in the ACT and throughout Australia, an analysis of almost 7000 crashes by insurer AAMI has revealed.
The data showed almost one in three, or 28.9 per cent, of collisions in the capital were nose-to-tail crashes, which was slightly above the national average of 28.3 per cent.
That was followed by collisions with a stationary object (16 per cent) failure to give way (14.6 per cent) and crashes when reversing (11.3 per cent).
AAMI spokesman Reuben Aitchison said nose-to-tail crashes were consistently the most common type of collision across the country, but he was surprised they were so prevalent on ACT roads.
"Canberra's a bit of an oddity when it comes to crashes.
"You would expect to see a high number of nose-to-tail crashes in major cities like Sydney or Melbourne where you get high volumes of traffic and those highly congested commuter routes."
"But we've heard that a lot of those collisions come from drivers, who might not be familiar with Canberra's roads, not indicating correctly when they're going through roundabouts."
Mr Aitchison said nose-to-tail crashes were generally caused by impatience, distraction and travelling too close to the car in front.
The number of collisions that involved a stationary object jumped up a spot to become the third most common cause of crashes in the past year.
They accounted for more than 16 per cent of crashes and Mr Aitchison said the most common objects drivers collided with were bollards in car parks, garage doors and gates or fences.
"When you're driving around a car park, you're focusing on what you've got to get and where you've got to be next.
"What you're not focusing on is the distance between you and the cars, the distance between you and the bollards, and those turning circles."
Prangs caused by a failure to give way had declined in the past decade, while there had been a rise in parked car dings over a similar period, Mr Aitchison said.
"I think it's important to note that three-quarters of these crashes aren't accidents at all, they were avoidable collisions.
"If we just are a little bit more patient and a little bit more attentive, we'll see these crashes go down and everyone will get to their destination in one piece."
The data also surveyed Australians who had been involved in a crash and found 45 per cent of drivers had changed their behaviour by driving more slowly, leaving more space between cars, or overtaking less often.
About 25 per cent of drivers said they had bought a safer model of car and 21 per cent opted for public transport more regularly.
Most common types of crashes: ACT
1. Nose to tail, 28.9 per cent.
2. Parked car dings, 21. 4 per cent.
3. Collision with a stationary object, 16 per cent.
4. Failed to give way, 14.6 per cent.
5. Collision while reversing, 11.3 per cent.
National
1. Nose to tail, 28.3 per cent.
2. Parked car dings, 22 per cent.
3. Failed to give way, 19.8 per cent.
4. Collision with a stationary object, 14.5 per cent.
5. Collision while reversing, 10.8 per cent.
