Crash course on common types of car accidents

Busy city road with cars stopped at traffic lights and other cars going at a green signal

Jumping behind the wheel is something many Australians do on a daily basis. But have you ever considered how common car crashes and car accidents are on Australian roads?

The latest stats tell us that more than 1,250 people were involved in fatal car accidents in 2023 – the highest road fatality rate since 2016.

But the more you know what causes car accidents, the better placed you’ll be to avoid the risks. In this guide, discover the eight most common types of car accidents in Australia, how to avoid them and how comprehensive car insurance may assist you in the event of an accident on the road.

How common are car crashes in Australia?

According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research’s latest report, there were 21.2 million registered motor vehicles on Australian on 31 January 2023, that’s an increase of about 2.3% from the previous year. With more traffic on the road, the likelihood of accidents has increased too.

In 2023, road deaths reached a five-year high in Australia. According to the Australian Road Deaths Database, 1,270 road deaths were recorded nationwide in 2023 – a 7.6% year-on-year increase from 2022.

8 most common car accidents and how to avoid them

While most traffic incidents that occur are unexpected, car crashes tend to follow predictable patterns.

In NSW, for example, 80% of all casualty crashes — where at least one person is killed or injured—fall into five common crash types. These crashes are also the most common crash types for provisional drivers.

Generally speaking, reducing your speed, taking frequent breaks on long drives, and keeping a safe distance between you and other cars are all practical ways to reduce the risk of a car crash. Below, we identify the most common types of car accidents and what you can do to avoid them.

However, if you do find yourself in a car crash, it’s important to learn what to do based on the rules and regulations in your local state and territory.

Car Accident Type 1: Colliding with the rear of a car

Also known as a rear-end collision, this is one of the most common types of car accidents in Australia—with research from Australia’s Journal of Road Safety revealing rear-end collisions are the most common type of collision in Australian road tunnels.

As you’d expect, this accident involves a driver colliding with the rear of a vehicle in front of them. This can be a two-car rear-end collision or even a multi-car rear-end crash, which often occurs in busy traffic conditions, such as congested motorways or highways.

This type of car accident usually occurs when a vehicle is turning right, either at an intersection or onto a side street from a main road. If the turning vehicle stops suddenly or fails to use its indicator, a rear-end collision can occur. Plus, if the trailing vehicle driver is distracted, speeding, or not leaving enough room between their car and the vehicle ahead, this car crash can occur.

To reduce your chance of being involved in this type of car accident, consider ^{[1, 2, 5]}:

Leave at least a three-second gap between you and other vehicles, especially if road traffic is heavy,
When turning right, start indicating early and reduce speed slowly, avoiding any sudden stops.
Beat distractions when behind the wheel by turning down music, keeping conversations to a minimum, and ensuring all mobile devices are not used or safely stored in hands-free devices.

Car Accident Type 2: Colliding with an adjacent car

Also known as a t-bone car accident, this type of car crash happens when two adjacent cars collide on the road, usually at an intersection.

Intersections^[7] use street signs to prompt drivers to stop and give way to oncoming traffic. However, if a driver is distracted, speeding or fails to see a stop sign, t-bone collisions can occur and can lead to serious injuries.

To reduce your chance of being involved in this type of car accident, try to ^{[7, 8, 17]}:

Always reduce speed when approaching intersections or traffic lights.
Come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign, and check both ways before continuing across the intersection.
Even if you have the right of way, drive defensively and be prepared to stop suddenly if a vehicle enters the intersection unexpectedly.

Car Accident Type 3: Colliding with an oncoming car

Also known as a head-on collision, this type of car crash can be incredibly dangerous and puts drivers, passengers and other motorists at risk of injury or even death.

Again, intersections tend to be the main places where head-on collisions occur, particularly if a car is turning right at a traffic light without a dedicated green turning arrow.

To reduce your chance of being involved in this type of car accident, try to ^{[13, 14]}:

Only turn right at an intersection when you have clear visibility of oncoming traffic.
Ensure you always leave at least a three-second gap between your car and any oncoming traffic.

Car Accident Type 4: Running off the road on a straight road

If you’ve ever taken a long-distance road trip or found yourself on long stretches of highway, you’ll be familiar with the fatigue and boredom that can set in. Running off the road on a straight section of road is incredibly common on highways, motorways and even in regional areas.

Unlike colliding with another vehicle, this type of car crash tends to result from fatigue, distractions on the road, or even exceeding the speed limit.

Unfortunately, the faster you travel, the lower your chance of survival. Research suggests that vehicles travelling over 70km/h have a much lower chance of survival when colliding head-on with an object (such as a tree or pole).

To reduce your chance of being involved in this type of car accident, try to ^{[11, 12]}:

Share the journey with another driver, particularly if you’re travelling long distances.
Take at least a 15-minute break for every two hours behind the wheel.
Do not speed at all even on long stretches of straight road.

Car Accident Type 5: Running off the road at a bend

Similar to the car crash type above, running off the road at a bend tends to happen as a result of driver fatigue.

Other factors can come into play, such as driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, poor visibility, poor weather conditions, or poorly maintained roads without adequate signage, particularly at bends.

To reduce your chance of being involved in this type of car accident, try to ^{[3, 4, 5, 6]}:

Share driving duties on long distance drives to avoid driver fatigue.
Take at least a 15-minute break every two hours.
Always follow the suggested speed limits when driving around corners.
Reduce speed by a further 10km/h when driving in wet or snowy conditions.

Accident Type 6: Failing to give way

There are many places on the road where drivers need to give way, from intersections to roundabouts. If this doesn’t happen and a driver fails to stop and give way, collisions can occur.

Not only is failing to give-way a driving offence, but it can cause injuries and even fatalities on the road.

To reduce your chance of being involved in this type of car accident, consider^{[15, 16]}:

Brushing up on the right of way rules and when you need to give way on Australian roads.
Always come to a complete stop at stop signs and traffic lights and give way to your right at roundabouts.
Make sure to always use your indicator when turning left or right to ensure other drivers know which way you’re travelling.

Car Accident Type 7: Hitting an animal

Sadly, upwards of 10 million animals are estimated to be hit on Australian roads each year, according to the University of Melbourne.

Collisions with livestock and wildlife are most common in rural or regional areas where roads regularly cut through national parks and farmland. Not only is hitting an animal potentially deadly to the creature, but it can cause significant damage to your car and endanger the lives of you and your passengers.

To reduce your chance of being involved in this type of car accident, consider:

Avoid driving at dusk and dawn in rural areas, as this is when wildlife is most active and most likely to enter the road.
Pay attention to wildlife warning signs and reduce speed in these areas.
When driving after dark in regional areas, use high-beam headlights to boost your visibility of the road ahead.

Car Accident Type 8: Hitting a parked car

Whether you’ve misjudged the size of a car spot or tried to squeeze into a tight car park, hitting a parked car is a common type of car accident in Australia.

If you’ve hit a parked car, it’s important to take photos and video evidence of the damage, check for injuries and exchange information with the other driver. If the parked car is unattended, make sure to leave a note with your contact details and information and request that they call you ASAP.

To reduce your chance of being involved in this type of car accident, try to^[9]:

Reduce speed when driving through car parks and when parking in tight spaces.
Use your car’s reverse camera, rear parking senses and a passenger to help you successfully navigate into tight car parking spaces.
Ensure you know the height and size of your vehicle before entering a car park and only park in spaces that will suit your vehicle. For example, large SUVs and utes should avoid parking in spaces marked for ‘small cars only’.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, find out what information you need to include when reporting a car crash and accident report, including how to contact emergency services and share these details with your insurance company.

Protect yourself with comprehensive car insurance

Even with the best intentions and road safety skills, there's still the risk of road incidents when driving on Australian roads. That’s why it can be helpful to consider taking out comprehensive car insurance.

With Real Comprehensive Car Insurance (if deemed eligible), you’ll be covered for any damage caused to your car in an accident — as well as the costs of damage you cause to other people’s cars and property in an accident. If your car needs to be replaced, the costs of this may be covered along with the costs of emergency accommodation, car hire (if the vehicle has been stolen), and essential repairs and reasonable towing costs.

Interested? Get a quote online today.

Other sources:

1. How to avoid the Top 5 Crash Situations – ADTAV

2. The Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics

3. Government of South Australia – My Licence

4. Road Safety Education - speeding

5. NSW Government – speed limit

6. NSW Government – common crashes

7. Road Safety Toolkit

8. NSW Government – intersections

9. Transport Victoria – safe driving tips

10. My Police QLD – What to do if you’ve hit a parked car