There are roads we all drive down where it’s common to see cars pulled over to the side after an accident.
They can be freeways, side roads, suburban roundabouts – they differ widely. But what brings them together is an unfortunate tendency to host regular fender benders.
The good news is they’re becoming easier to avoid, especially after a major insurance company compiled research on Australia’s accident black spots.
(Link for reference – https://www.aami.com.au/aami-answers/insurancey/aami-crash-index-2018-australias-most-dangerous-crash-hotspots.html)
Australia’s most accident-prone roads
The worst road in Australia for accidents was identified as Plenty Road in Bundoora, a suburb in Melbourne’s north. Gympie Road in Brisbane was Queensland’s most dangerous road, the Hume Highway in Liverpool was Sydney’s worst, while The Parade topped Adelaide’s heap.
In Canberra, the most dangerous road was the Monaro Highway in Hume and in Perth, the Albany Highway in Cannington was the worst for accidents.
What each of these roads has in common – apart from all the accidents – is they all have multiple intersections with lots of vehicles coming in and out. They also get clogged with traffic, leading to lots of stopping and starting.
Under these conditions, it’s easy to see see how traffic accidents can happen, especially minor accidents where you may not be at fault, such as getting hit in the rear bumper in stop/start traffic.
Good things to do on a bad road
If you find yourself driving on an accident-prone road, it pays to be very mindful of your surroundings and drive with extra caution.
Even at an intersection where you have the right of way, it’s a good idea to double check the flow of traffic before you move out – someone may have made a mistake and be coming right for you.
Another tip is to plan your journey and avoid traffic-clogged roads if you can.
If your route must go through a stop/start area, then make sure to leave extra distance from the car in front of you. This way, if your car’s rear end gets bumped, you can avoid damaging the front of your car.
Be prepared for an accident
Despite the best precautions, accidents do unfortunately happen, especially on roads where there is plenty of traffic entering and leaving and congestion.
If you do find yourself involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s important that you know your rights.
After swapping insurance details with the other driver, make sure you insist on getting an accident replacement car to use while your vehicle is being repaired.
The insurance company of the driver responsible for the crash will be liable for cost, and you can insist on a like-for-like replacement so your lifestyle isn’t affected.
