Car crashes happen every day on roads all over Australia and while some accidents are minor bingles, others are much more serious. In 2023-24, car crashes resulted in more than 20,000 hospital admissions,1 and in the 12 months ending July 2025, 1,340 people lost their lives on Australian roads.2
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and many serious car crashes can be prevented by safe driving.3
“Road trauma doesn’t just happen – most of the time, it’s the direct result of poor choices made behind the wheel, from the passenger seat, on two wheels or even just walking down the street,” says Russell White, Chair and Founder of the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF).4
White points to research recently conducted for the ARSF which shows that 56% of drivers admit to breaking road rules.4
“But that means we also have the power to create real change, to stop this needless loss of life by choosing road safety and encouraging each other to do the same,” he notes.4
In this guide you’ll discover the main factors that contribute to car crashes, what you can do to help avoid being involved in the most common types of accidents, and how car insurance can help after a collision.
Common types of car crashes: Head-on collisions, rear-end car collisions and more
There are many types of car crashes and they don’t always occur on the road. For example, car park accidents happen more frequently than you might think.
But on Australia’s roads, some types of car crashes are more common than others, particularly when it comes to serious ones. 80% of crashes in New South Wales that result in someone being killed or injured fall into five crash types,3 and it’s worth noting that not all common crashes involve two vehicles.
The five common car crash types include:3
- Having a rear-end car collision
- Colliding with a vehicle coming from the left or right
- Colliding with an oncoming vehicle, including having a head-on collision
- Running off the road on a straight section and hitting an object
- Running off the road at a curve or bend and hitting an object.3
Single-vehicle collisions are, in fact, the most dangerous, with these car crashes accounting for the most fatal crashes on Australian roads in the 12 months ending September 2025.5
What factors contribute to serious car crashes?
Queensland University of Technology’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety has identified a handful of behaviours that commonly contribute to serious car accidents, calling them the “fatal five”.6 They are:
- Speeding:6 Driving 10km/h over the speed limit in a 60km/h zone means you’re four times more likely to be involved in a crash.7 Research also shows that with each 5km/h increase above the speed limit on urban roads and each 10km/h increase above the limit on regional roads, your risk of having an injury or fatality-related crash doubles.8
- Drink or drug driving:6 While drink driving is the main contributing factor in 30% of fatal crashes on Australian roads,6 in 2023 drug driving was the most common factor in fatal crashes where risky road behaviours were involved.9
- Not wearing seatbelts:6 Wearing a seatbelt won’t prevent a crash, but it can double your chance of surviving one, as well as significantly reduce your risk of injury.10
- Fatigue:6 Driver fatigue contributes to up to 20% of all road crashes,11 and fatigue-related crashes are almost three times as likely to be fatal.12
- Distraction:6 ARSF research shows that mobile phone use is one of the most common causes of driver distraction.13 Drivers are 10 times more at risk of having an accident if they’re texting, browsing or emailing on their phone.14
According to the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), road and infrastructure factors are also major contributors in road crashes.
“Unsealed roads, poor line marking and insufficient protection for vulnerable users elevate crash risk,” says Dr Ingrid Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of ACRS, who adds that increasing extreme weather events can also contribute.
“Heavy rain, heatwaves, floods and bushfires heighten crash risks by impairing visibility, traction and road surface quality,” Dr Johnston explains.
“Heat and stress associated with natural disasters can also impair driver judgement and reaction times.”
Who is most at risk of a vehicle collision?
All drivers are at risk of being in a car crash, but young people aged 18-25 in their first year of driving are almost four times more likely than experienced drivers to be involved in a serious one.15 When a learner driver first gets their P-plates, their risk of having a serious accident is as much as six times higher than more experienced drivers.16
According to Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission, young, first-year drivers are seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury car crash between 10pm and 6am than fully licensed drivers.17
The risk of having a fatal car accident can be even higher again for young drivers when they’re travelling with young passengers.15
Reasons that bump up young drivers’ risk of being involved in an accident include a lack of experience, underestimating or deliberately taking risks, and alcohol and drug use.15
Gender can also be a factor – statistics show that in the 12 months to September 2025, nearly three times more males than females were involved in fatal crashes.5
Steps you can take to stay safe on the road
Following the road rules, particularly around behaviours that commonly contribute to car crashes such as speeding and mobile phone use, is the single most important thing you can do to stay safe while driving. However, here are some other steps that can help prevent the most common types of crashes.3
Drive to the conditions
Johnston says safe speeds aren’t only about the posted speed limit, but also about what’s safe for the environment. “Drivers should habitually ask themselves whether their speed is appropriate for the conditions, not just the number on the sign,” she says, identifying wet weather, poor visibility, heavy traffic and the presence of cyclists and pedestrians as just a few of the conditions where adjusting speed to suit may be wise.
Similarly, White recommends being prudent about using your mobile phone legally when you’re driving. “Even if it’s legal to answer a phone call on hands free, if you’re driving in peak-hour traffic or when it’s bucketing down with rain, it’s probably not the best time to take a call.”
Check forecasts and warnings and, wherever possible, avoid driving during unpredictable and severe weather events.18
Avoid driving when you’re tired
To avoid fatigue, it may help to wait half-an-hour after waking before driving, and to avoid driving when you’d normally be asleep. For long journeys, take regular breaks even if you don’t feel tired and share the driving duties if you can.19
Recognising the early warning signs of fatigue, so you can pull over in a safe place and take a break, is also important. Signs include:19
- Yawning
- Tired or sore eyes
- Drowsiness, boredom or restlessness
- Poor concentration
- Slow reactions
- Missing road signs
- Having difficulty staying in your lane
- Making fewer and larger steering corrections.19
Create a crash avoidance space
In good driving conditions, you need at least a 3-second gap between your vehicle and the one in front of you, so you can react and respond to a situation safely if you need to, to avoid a crash. This crash avoidance space should increase to 4 seconds or more when conditions are poor.20
To work out your crash avoidance space:20
- Select an object, such as a power pole, tree or sign, on the left-hand side of the road
- When the rear of the car in front of you passes it, count 3 seconds
- If your vehicle passes the object before you’ve finished counting, you’re following too closely; slow down and repeat the exercise until there’s a 3-second gap between you and the car in front.20
How can insurance help after a vehicle collision?
Depending on your policy, you may be able to get help from your insurer immediately after an accident and support to help reduce stress and inconvenience in the weeks that follow.
For example, if you have Comprehensive car insurance with Youi, you can call us from the accident scene to lodge a claim, and if your car isn’t safe to drive, we’ll assist with having it towed as part of your cover.21
With Comprehensive cover, if you’re in an accident where you’re not at fault, we’ll also cover the cost of a hire car while yours is being repaired, provided you can give us the details of the at-fault driver.21
And with every level of car insurance cover at Youi, we'll help you with counselling costs following an accepted claim for damage or legal liability.21
Does car insurance cover you if the accident’s your fault?
If you have comprehensive car insurance, you’ll generally be able to make a claim to cover repairs to both your car and other cars, even if the accident is your fault.22
On the other hand, if you have a third party insurance policy and you’re at fault in an accident, you’ll only be able to make a claim to cover any damage you’ve caused to the other driver’s car.22
Regardless of your level of cover, it’s always best to contact your insurer as soon as practically possible after an incident.23
To lodge an insurance claim, your insurer will need some key details about the accident,23 some of which you’ll need to gather at the scene.24 You might wish to download this car accident checklist to keep handy in your glove box.
Will your car insurance premium increase after a car crash?
“Claims history is a consideration when calculating insurance premiums, so if you’ve made a claim for damage sustained in an accident, your future premiums could be affected. The extent of a renewal increase will typically be determined by the type of claim, its cost to the insurance company, and your perceived future risk”, says Marni Jackson, Youi’s Head of Product – Vehicle and Lifestyle.
“But your driving record, including your claims history, is just one part of the puzzle when your premium is calculated. At Youi, we look at the whole picture and base your premium on a variety of important factors.”
Any car crash can be incredibly stressful, so hopefully the information above helps you feel a little more confident about what you can do to help lower your risk of being involved in one.
If you do experience a car accident and you’re insured with Youi, our dedicated claims advisors are available to help you lodge your claim or you can lodge online 24/7. Just call 13 9684 if you would like to speak to an advisor directly.
Note: The laws of each state and territory vary, and there may be different rules and requirements for people involved in a motor vehicle accident. We recommend that you acquaint yourself with your obligations before travelling. If in doubt – call 000.
1 Source: AIHW – Transport accidents, June 2025
2 Source: Australian Government – Road Deaths Australia – July 2025
3 Source: NSW Government – Common crashes and how to avoid them
4 Source: Australian Road Safety Foundation – Road safety authorities call time on risky road behaviour, May 2025
5 Source: Australian Government – Monthly road deaths, October 2025
6 Source: Qld Police – The Fatal Five – staying safe on the roads, March 2024
7 Source: NSW Government – Speed, December 2022
8 Source: Government of SA – Safe speeds
9 Source: Australian Government – Police enforcement, August 2025
10 Source: NSW Government – Seatbelts
11 Source: Transport Victoria – Fatigue and driving
12 Source: NSW Government – Fatigue
13 Source: Australian Road Safety Foundation – The Impact of Driver Distractions
14 Source: VicRoads – FAQs about new Victorian road rules 2023
15 Source: Vic Police – Young drivers, January 2025
16 Source: Qld Government – Protect your P-plater
17 Source: Transport Accident Commission – Risks for young drivers
18 Source: NSW Government – Driving in poor conditions
19 Source: NSW Government – Driver fatigue
20 Source: NSW Government – Safe stopping distance
21 Exclusions, limits and additional fees may apply. See the Car Insurance PDS for full details.
22 Source: Moneysmart – Choosing car insurance
23 Source: Moneysmart – Claiming on your car insurance
24 Source: NSW Government – What to do at a road crash
