The roads where Australians are most likely to crash have been revealed, with Melbourne home to nine of the nation’s 10 worst crash hotspots. 

Springvale Rd in Glen Waverley recorded the highest number of motor insurance claims in 2025, taking Australia’s unwanted crash hotspot crown for the first time in eight years, according to the 2026 AAMI Crash Index. 

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The intersection with Ferntree Gully Rd was identified as the road’s worst crash location.

The annual index analysed more than 394,000 motor insurance claims lodged across Australia between January 1 and December 31, 2025. 

Springvale Rd overtook Plenty Rd in Bundoora, which had held the unwanted title for the previous eight years. 

The intersection of Plenty Rd and Settlement Rd ranked second nationally. 

The rest of Australia’s top 10 crash hotspots were:

• Doncaster Rd, Doncaster, VIC (Doncaster Rd and Elgar Rd)
• Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood, VIC (Maroondah Hwy and Dublin Rd)
• Sydney Rd, Campbellfield, VIC (Sydney Rd and Mahoneys Rd)
• Bell St, Preston, VIC (Bell St and Albert St)
• Cooper St, Epping, VIC (Cooper St and High St)
• Nepean Hwy, Cheltenham, VIC (Nepean Hwy and Bay Rd)
• Pennant Hills Rod, Carlingford, NSW (Pennant Hills Rd and Evans Rd)
• Stud Road, Rowville, VIC (Stud Rd and Wellington Rd). 

Nine of the top 10 roads recorded nose-to-tail collisions as their most common crash type, with Doncaster Rd in Doncaster the only exception, where failure to give way was the leading cause of crashes.

Pennant Hills Rd at Carlingford — particularly the intersection with North Rocks Road — was named Sydney’s worst crash hotspot.

The Hume Hwy and Cumberland Hwy intersection at Liverpool has been pushed into second spot, followed by Epping Rd and Wicks Rd at North Ryde.

Windsor Rd at Baulkham Hills — just before the M2 — came in fourth, with Victoria Rd at West Ryde rounding out the top five.

All five locations are major roads at busy intersections with high volumes of turning traffic.

Sydney’s top 5 crash hotspots Credit: 7NEWS

The report also identified each capital city’s worst crash hotspot. 

Brisbane’s was Mains Rd at Sunnybank, Perth’s was Albany Hwy at Cannington, Adelaide’s was North East Rd at Modbury, Hobart’s was Sandy Bay Rd at Sandy Bay, Canberra’s was Hindmarsh Dr at Phillip and Darwin’s was Trower Rd at Casuarina. 

The data reveals nose-to-tail collisions are Australia’s most common crash type, accounting for 28 per cent of all accidents. 

Failure to give way comes in second at 23 per cent, followed by collisions with stationary objects at 22 per cent.

Peak time for crashes is Friday between 9.30am and 1pm.

Drivers aged 65 and over, along with male drivers, were identified as the biggest offenders.

The data suggests Australians generally avoid speeding and phone distraction while driving.

However, many motorists could improve their acceleration, braking and cornering by looking further ahead, leaving more space between vehicles and taking greater care at busy intersections.

AAMI motor prevention manager Mary Kennedy said the nation’s crash hotspots shared common characteristics, including heavy traffic, multiple lanes, traffic lights, major intersections, shopping precincts and constant turning movements.

“Most claims aren’t high-speed collisions. They are everyday bingles like nose-to-tail crashes, failure to give way and collisions with stationary objects, which means they are also among the most preventable,” Kennedy said.

“Whether you are driving through Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra or Darwin, the message is the same: leave a safe gap, look further ahead, take extra care at intersections and avoid rushing through busy traffic.”