New crash data reveals most dangerous roads in Brisbane and regions

A major insurer has released its annual crash index report revealing the 10 most dangerous roads across the state. SEARCH THE LIST

Gympie Rd on Brisbane’s northside

The Bruce Highway has been crowned Queensland’s most dangerous road and Gympie Rd the worst in Brisbane, as insurer AAMI releases its annual crash index report revealing the state’s most crash-prone areas.

The report, which analyses more than 350,000 motor insurance claims across Australia between July 2022 and June 2023, found Brisbane was the only capital city where women are more likely to crash than men.

But the Bruce Highway topped the list as the worst crash spot in several regional areas, including Gladstone, Gympie, Rockhampton, Mackay the Sunshine Coast and Townsville.

Other notable crash hotspots around the state included the Gold Coast Highway, the Riverlink Shopping Centre at Ipswich, Ruthven St in Toowoomba, Sheridan St in Cairns and the Cunningham Highway at Warwick.

Gympie Rd emerged as Brisbane’s major crash magnet, receiving four mentions in the city’s top ten crash list, with Kedron and Aspley cited fourth and sixth worst crash areas.

The AAMI Crash Index Report 2023 showed Thursday was the worst day for road crashes, with 39-49 year olds more likely to crash on Gympie Rd in Chermside - the No.1 crash hot spot in Brisbane.

AAMI’s head of motor customer engagement Tammy Hall said Gympie Rd was notorious for congestion and collisions, topping the list for six years, with the exception of 2021 when it fell to second place.

“Gympie Road is often referred to as the worst road in North Brisbane,” Ms Hall said.

“For a lot of Brisbane drivers, it’s hard to avoid as it’s a main thoroughfare from the Northern suburbs to Brisbane’s CBD.

“Several other major roads feed in at different entry points, and there are multiple traffic lights and intersections, so it’s hardly surprising that it has been named as Brisbane’s top hotspot once again.”

In 2023, four new locations entered Brisbane’s top 10 including Logan Rd in Eight Mile Plains (3rd), Sandgate Rd in Clayfield (8th), Hamilton Rd in Chermside (9th) and Moggill Rd in Indooroopilly (10th).

Mains Rd at Sunnybank climbed from sixth position in 2022 to take second place this year and Logan Rd at Mount Gravatt dropped from second to fourth.

Data revealed nose to tail crashes accounted for more than half of Brisbane crashes and Thursdays were the most dangerous to be on Gympie Rd in Chermside, particularly between 9.30am and 1pm.

The worst offenders were drivers aged 55-64 (25 per cent).

Ms Hall said crash hotspots around Brisbane usually involved major roads intersecting with local streets in high traffic areas, sometimes with schools and shopping precincts.

“Making them consistently busy throughout the day,” she said.

“Bumper to bumper collisions often happen during peak hour traffic when the roads are busy, patience is wearing thin, drivers are tired from the day, and are in a rush to get to their destination.

“This is when accidents most commonly occur.”

2023 AAMI Crash Index Brisbane rankings

1. Gympie Road Chermside 1 ←
2. Mains Road Sunnybank 6 ↑
3. Logan Road Eight Mile Plains – New
4. Logan Road Mount Gravatt 2 ↓
5. Gympie Road Kedron 5 ↑
6. Waterworks Road Ashgrove 9 ↑
7. Gympie Road Aspley 7 ↑
8. Ipswich Road Annerley 4 ↓
9. Sandgate Road Clayfield – New
10. Hamilton Road Chermside – New
11. Moggill Road Indooroopilly – New

2023 AAMI Crash Index regional rankings

Bundaberg:

1. Bourbong Street, Bundaberg

2. Walker Street, Bundaberg

=2 Maryborough Street, Bundaberg

Cairns:

1. Sheridan Street, Cairns

2. Lake Street, Cairns

3. McLeod Street, Cairns

Gladstone:

1. Bruce Highway, Gladstone

2. Dawson Highway, Gladstone

3. Gladstone Benaraby Road, Gladstone

Gold Coast

1. Gold Coast Highway, Gold Coast

2. Musgrave Avenue, Gold Coast

=2 Pacific Motorway, Gold Coast

Gympie:

1. Bruce Highway, Gympie

2. Mary Street, Gympie

3. Tin Can Bay Road, Gympie

Hervey Bay:

1. Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road, Hervey Bay

=1 Boat Harbour Drive, Hervey Bay

Ipswich:

1. Riverlink Shopping Centre, Ipswich

2. Warrego Highway, Ipswich

3. Brisbane Street, Ipswich

Mackay:

1. Bruce Highway, Mackay

2. Victoria Street, Mackay

3. Nebo Road, Mackay

Rockhampton:

1. Bruce Highway, Rockhampton

2. East Street, Rockhampton

3. Yaamba Road, Rockhampton

Sunshine Coast:

1. Bruce Highway, Sunshine Coast

2. Sunshine Coast Motorway, Sunshine Coast

Toowoomba:

1. Ruthven Street, Toowoomba

2. Margaret Street, Toowoomba

3. James Street, Toowoomba

Townsville:

1. Bruce Highway, Townsville

2. Flinders Street, Townsville

3. Sturt Street, Townsville

Warwick:

1. Cunningham Highway, Warwick

2. New England Highway, Warwick

3. Palmerin Street, Warwick