Perth shoppers could be facing more than just crowded aisles this festive season, with new insurance data identifying some of Western Australia's busiest shopping centre carparks as the state's worst zones for vehicle collisions.
The Naughty List: Suburbs With The Most Carpark Prangs
Analysis of over 17,300 carpark insurance claims made between September 2024 and August 2025 has pinpointed the most dangerous locations. The data, released by insurer AAMI, shows Innaloo has earned the dubious honour of WA's worst suburb for carpark collisions.
It is closely followed by Booragoon and Mandurah, rounding out a top three that shoppers might want to approach with extra caution. The research highlights that shopping centre carparks become major collision hotspots during the Christmas rush, with December being the peak month, recording a staggering 1,876 crashes.
When and How Crashes Happen
The statistics reveal clear patterns in when these accidents are most likely to occur. Wednesdays and Saturdays are the riskiest days, with the afternoon window between 12pm and 4pm – when centres are typically at their busiest – seeing the highest frequency of incidents.
In terms of the types of collisions, the data is clear: 40 per cent of all accidental damage happens while the vehicle is parked. Another significant cause, accounting for 24 per cent of incidents, involves collisions with stationary objects like bollards or stray shopping trolleys.
"The festive rush turns shopping centre carparks into a real battleground," said AAMI motor claims manager Leah James. "Think last-minute gift runs, distracted shoppers and a whole lot of circling. It’s no surprise we see so many fender-benders at this time of year."
Risky Habits and New Vehicle Dangers
As pressure mounts during the silly season, drivers are adopting risky behaviours. These include stalking shoppers back to their cars and illegally parking in restricted or parent-with-pram bays after growing frustrated from endlessly circling for a spot.
Ms James also highlighted a modern safety concern emerging in carparks. "This season, we also flag the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles as a safety issue," she warned. "They’re much quieter than conventional cars, so pedestrians and other drivers may not hear them approaching or reversing, especially in dimly lit carparks."
While many carpark prangs occur at low speeds, AAMI cautions that they can still lead to expensive repair bills and insurance claims.
How To Stay Safe This Christmas
To avoid becoming a holiday statistic, drivers are urged to adopt safer practices. AAMI's key recommendations for navigating packed carparks include:
- Slowing down and being patient.
- Staying alert and checking blind spots consistently.
- Being extra vigilant for pedestrians, especially children.
- Practising courtesy and not aggressively competing for spaces.
- Turning on headlights to increase visibility, even during the day.
- Putting the phone away to eliminate distraction.
"Whatever your carpark personality, the simplest way to avoid becoming a Christmas carpark statistic is to slow down, be patient and stay focused," Ms James concluded.
