A recent study conducted by Suncorp Group's AAMI brand has cast a spotlight on driver conduct during the festive season, specifically related to shopping centre car park collisions.
An exhaustive analysis of over 23,000 car park insurance claims nationwide spanning from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, has exposed a significant upswing in collisions during this period.
December witnessed the highest frequency of shopping centre car park collisions, tallying 2,423 incidents, closely followed by January with 2,053 occurrences. Comparatively, December experienced a 22% uptick in car park crashes compared to the monthly average over the 12 months leading up to November 30, 2023.
For the second consecutive year, the Melbourne suburb of Doncaster, home to one of Victoria's largest shopping centres, retained the unenviable title of Australia's primary hotspot for car park collisions.
The research also pinpointed Fridays as the most accident-prone day, closely trailed by Saturdays and Thursdays. In terms of timing, the afternoon, specifically between midday and 4 pm, emerged as the peak period for shopping centre car park collisions.
22% of these collisions occurred during instances where at least one driver was in the process of reversing. Additionally, the study revealed that female drivers are more predisposed to finding themselves entangled in a car park collision.
AAMI motor claims manager Leah James emphasised the correlation between busy shopping centres, congested car parks, and the subsequent surge in accidents.
“Typically – outside of the festive season, drivers expect to find a car park within 3 to 5 minutes. However, during December and January, when car parks are busy, finding a spot can become a 15-to-30-minute nightmare, or longer for those hell bent on securing a park,” James said. “The longer we spend doing laps of the car park and stalking shoppers, the more frustrated we become, which can quickly lead to erratic driving and a higher chance of being in a collision.”
A specific concern highlighted in the research is the growing prevalence of electric vehicles (EVs) in car parks.
“With so many [EVs] now on our roads, both drivers and pedestrians need to be on the lookout for these as they are virtually silent, so you can't rely on engine noises to alert you that one is creeping up or reversing,” said James. “Likewise, EV drivers need to be mindful that their car doesn't emit the usual warning sounds, so lookout for pedestrians, particularly children, and other drivers who might not notice you.”
She also said that while drivers cannot control what goes on in a car park, they can adapt their behaviour behind the wheel.
“As you hit the shops, keep calm, minimise distractions, and avoid dashing through the car park to avoid an unwanted car park prang before Christmas,” she said.
In September, AAMI released a list of Australia's most dangerous car crash hotspots for 2023.
