The most common car crashes in 2026

Even the most experienced and safest drivers can experience a road accident. A moment of lapsed concentration, hesitation or over-confidence can all result in a bingle, and sometimes, it’s life changing.

According to NRMA Insurance data from more than 69,000 motor collision claims in 2026, rear-end crashes and failing to give way are the most common causes of motor incidents in Australia. Rounding out the top five include reversing incidents and hitting a stationary object, like a fence, pole or garage door.

Here’s the top 8:

1. Rear-end collision
2. Failure to give way
3. Reversing
4. Hit stationary object
5. Single vehicle accident
6. Animal collision
7. Unsafe manoeuvre
8. Head on collision.

Rear-end collisions are typically caused by tailgating (following another car too closely), distraction or speeding. Help prevent a rear-end collision by:

• Keeping a safe distance: Allow a 3-second gap between you and the car in front of you to allow enough distance to react and brake safely. When travelling at higher speeds, increase the gap to 5 seconds.
  
  
• Putting your phone away: The TikTok story, YouTube video or text from your bestie can wait. Avoid being distracted by your phone by keeping it out of reach or locking certain apps before you drive.
  
  
• Obeying the speed limit: Always follow the speed limit and try to leave a little earlier to reduce the temptation to rush. If you’re running late for a catch up, reservation or work meeting, just call them before you leave and let them know. They’d rather you arrive safely than not at all.

The road rules in Australia can differ depending on the state or territory you’re driving in, but broadly, the requirement at a give way sign is to slow down or stop, assess the intersection for hazards, and enter the road when it’s safe to do so.

Check what to do at intersections in your area by visiting your state or territory’s transport authority website, some even include diagrams and videos to help you visualise the intersection.

If you own a modern car, chances are, you have access to life-saving smart-car safety technology, including reversing cameras and motion sensors. These features can help increase a driver’s awareness of what’s behind their vehicle, whether it’s another car, a person, a child, pet or garage door. By doing so, the technology helps prevent and reduce the severity of some of the most common accident types seen in NRMA Insurance claims data, including rear-end collisions, unsafe manoeuvres, lane departures and collisions with stationary objects.

However, despite the benefits, Shawn Ticehurst, NRMA Insurance’s Head of Automotive Research, shares that “60% of Australian drivers tell us they’re turning off driver-assist safety features in their cars, meaning those people are missing out on realising the safety benefits, and that’s a major concern.”

So, if you have access to the technology; embrace it. Reversing vehicle aids became a mandatory requirement for Australian vehicles in 2023 for good reason: it would contribute to a reduction in both fatal and non-fatal driveway incidents.

If you’ve got an older car, consider a retrofit option. Simply chat with your car dealer or vehicle manufacturer for suggestions on the best product for your make/model.

Even the safest drivers can have an ‘oops’ moment on the road. If you’re involved in an accident, here’s what to do:

1. Ensure your safety: make sure you’re out of harm’s way and if there’s an injury or hazard, call triple zero.
   
   
2. Gather details: the more, the better. Ask for the full name, address, licence and insurance details and of the other driver, and take note of the make and model of the other vehicle. If there were witnesses, get their name and phone number too.
   
   
3. Take photos: if possible, take photos to document the damage and location of the incident.
   
   
4. Organise a tow: if your car isn’t safe to drive (or you’re unsure) organise a tow.

If you’re an NRMA Insurance policy holder and want to learn more about the claims process and what happens next, head to: Car Insurance claims | NRMA Insurance.