New data exposes dangerous car habits putting Qld drivers at risk

Nearly one-third of Queenslanders are putting themselves at risk of breakdowns and accidents by avoiding essential car maintenance.

A quarter of Queenslanders are not confident they can spot the early warning signs in their vehicle. (File picture)

Nearly one-third of Queenslanders are putting themselves at risk of breakdowns and accidents by delaying car maintenance due to cost-of-living pressures, the state’s peak motoring body has warned.

And 80 per cent of the motorists who were avoiding the essential task had skipped out on their annual car service and 40 per cent had deferred replacing their tyres. 

The alarming new data from RACQ also revealed a quarter of Queenslanders were not confident they could spot the early warning signs in their vehicle when it might be due for maintenance or servicing.

The latest findings come after the peak body’s roadside assistance fleet had responded to nearly 740,000 calls for help in the 2025 financial year.

Of those, 327,840 call-outs were for battery-related issues, 23,786 for vehicle lockouts, 74,840 for flat tyres and 6450 from those who had run out of fuel.

The data also singled out the top regions across the state where the most roadside assistance call-outs occurred, with the majority reported in western Brisbane (104,442) and northern Brisbane (101,413).

But despite the concerning findings that Queenslanders were holding out on booking in their car for maintenance, the number of roadside assistance call-outs had decreased over the years, with 740,401 reported in financial year 2024 and 753,658 in financial year 2023.

RACQ deputy group chief executive Glenn Toms stressed that while cost-of-living pressures were seeing Queenslanders hold off from booking in their next service, it was essential that car maintenance was kept up to date.

More than half of Queenslanders surveyed (57 per cent) found that delaying maintenance tasks increased the likelihood of breakdowns or accidents.

“While our fleet of more than 750 patrols is ready to assist motorists 24/7, being aware of early warning signs can reduce your risk of an unplanned breakdown. We understand cost-of-living pressures are impacting household budgets and keeping up with car maintenance can often fall to the wayside,” Mr Toms said.

Mr Toms said it was vital that Queenslanders stay across what different warning lights indicate in their car, encouraging motorists to learn how to perform simple checks at home.

“Tasks you can easily do at home include checking your tyre tread depth, monitoring your oil and fluid levels, ensuring your lights are working properly and making sure your wiper blades are working efficiently,” he explained.

Mr Toms said regular battery checks were also beneficial, as modern vehicles continued to rely more on technology systems.

“Having your battery checked at your local mechanic or at one of RACQ’s auto stores, will give you a good indicator of its lifespan and when it might need to be replaced,” he said.

Originally published as New data exposes dangerous car habits putting Qld drivers at risk