Maroochydore, Carindale and Indooroopilly named as the three most problematic spots for car park collisions in QLD
The festive season rush is once again turning Queensland shopping centre car parks into high-risk zones, with new data naming Maroochydore, Carindale and Indooroopilly as the state’s three worst hotspots for car park collisions.
The findings come from AAMI’s national survey and claims analysis, which examined more than 17,300 car park insurance claims lodged across Australia between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025. The data confirms what many shoppers experience firsthand car parks become increasingly chaotic in the lead-up to Christmas.
In Queensland, the most problematic locations are concentrated around busy retail hubs, with Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and Carindale and Indooroopilly in Brisbane leading the list for car park prangs.
Nationally, the worst locations for car park incidents are Doncaster in Melbourne’s east and Chadstone in the city’s south-east, reflecting the enormous traffic volumes moving through those major centres.
The research also reveals:
- December is the worst month for shopping centre car park collisions, with 1,876 incidents recorded nationwide.
- The peak days for car park crashes are Fridays, followed closely by Thursdays and Saturdays. Sundays are comparatively safer.
- The peak time for incidents is the afternoon period between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm, when crowds are heaviest and driver fatigue and frustration can set in.
- The most common causes of claims are accidental damage while parked (40%) and collisions with stationary objects, such as bollards, poles, or shopping trolleys (24%).
AAMI Motor Claims Manager Leah James said a combination of stress, distraction and congestion was to blame.
“The festive rush turns shopping centre car parks into a real battleground – think last-minute gift runs, distracted shoppers and a whole lot of circling,” James said. “It’s no surprise we see so many fender-benders at this time of year.”
One of the more interesting elements of the report is the breakdown of driver behaviour into five distinct “festive car park personas”:
- The Traditionalist (40%) – Always heads to the same level or section, believing routine will deliver results.
- The Santa Stalker (27%) – Follows shoppers back to their car, waiting to swoop on their spot as soon as they reverse out.
- The Christmas Miracle (24%) – Somehow always lands a park quickly, whether by luck, timing or sheer Christmas magic.
- The Christmas Spendthrift (6%) – Pays extra for valet, premium parking or car wash services to secure a guaranteed spot and reduce stress.
- The Naughty-List Driver (4%) – Resorts to rule-breaking by parking in restricted areas such as “parents with prams” bays, on median strips, or in no-parking zones.
Beyond these behavioural patterns, the report also identifies a modern safety concern: electric and hybrid vehicles. Their much quieter operation compared to traditional petrol and diesel cars may make them harder for pedestrians and other drivers to detect, especially in dimly lit or multi-level car parks.
“This season, we also flag the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles as a safety issue,” James said. “They’re much quieter than conventional cars, so pedestrians and other drivers may not hear them approaching or reversing especially in dimly lit car parks.”
Queensland drivers are being urged to slow down, be patient and remain aware of their surroundings as the peak shopping period continues. Simple measures like avoiding mobile phone use while driving, indicating early, staying within marked bays and allowing extra time to find a park can dramatically reduce the risk of collisions.
For those heading to busy centres like Maroochydore, Carindale and Indooroopilly, leaving a little earlier, considering off-peak times, or using public transport where possible could help ease both congestion and anxiety.
The message from safety advocates is clear: getting a prime parking spot is never worth a crash, a confrontation or a costly insurance claim.
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