- Collisions reducing as ADAS-equipped cars grow in number.
- Millennials have the lowest accident risk.
- Most accident-prone streets in NZ revealed.
A new publication by AMI, part of the largest insurer group in New Zealand, suggests that advanced driver asisst systems (ADAS) really do seem to be reducing accidents. The AMI Motor Report also goes into fine detail around Kiwi accident hotspots, right down to identifying the most dangerous street intersections.
Of the 235,000-plus vehicle claims pocessed by AMI in the past year, nearly 60% are the result of collisions. It has identified a 7% decrease in collisions since 2023, as the number of policies for vehicles 15 years old and newer have risen.
In a recent customer survey, 70% of customers with ADAS in their vehicles said the main benefit was improved safety.
What's ADAS again?
ADAS refers to vehicle features that help drivers avoid accidents. Many are sensor or camera based, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping and driver distraction alerts.
ADAS users reported less driving-related anxiety, with 12% admitting they wouldn’t have the confidence to reverse parallel park without it.
“While ADAS can help prevent accidents, our claims data is an important reminder that ADAS is the co-pilot and not the driver," says Dean MacGregor, AMI executive general manager Hub Services.
"ADAS can’t replace our attention and judgment – and ultimately, it’s our hands on the wheel."
A large number of claims occurred in low-speed areas, with busy city streets and car parks remaining hotspots for collisions.
Which Kiwi streets have the most accidents?
“For the first time, we’ve mapped out the nation’s top 10 collision hotspots, right down to the exact street location,” says MacGregor. Auckland dominates the list with Great South Road, Ti Rakau Drive and Great North Road in the top three. Christchurch’s busy Moorhouse Avenue also made the list, in ninth place.
Here's the top 10:
- Great South Road, Auckland.
- Ti Rakau Drive, Auckland.
- Great North Road, Auckland.
- Manukau Road, Auckland.
- Lincoln Road, Auckland.
- Dominion Road, Auckland.
- Don McKinnon Drive, Auckland.
- Mount Wellington Highway, Auckland.
- Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch.
- New North Road, Auckland.
“We’re seeing drivers hit concrete walls, detach wing mirrors by swiping poles or even hitting objects they didn’t see in blind spots.”
Some of the costliest parking mishaps involved gear mix-ups, forgotten handbrakes, and even footwear getting stuck between pedals - sending cars lurching into buildings or rolling into the sea.
Which generations have the lowest collision risk?
Millennials and Gen Z show the most interest in ADAS, with 52% of drivers under 40 saying they want ADAS in their next car.
“Millennials have the lowest collision risk, with only 11% of policies resulting in a collision claim. By contrast, Gen Z drivers face the greatest risk, with around 35.6% of their policies involving a collision claim, regardless of fault.”
When comparing collision frequency by generation, the ranking from lowest to highest risk is: Millennials (11%), Gen X (14%), Baby Boomers (14.4%), Silent Generation (16%), and Gen Z (35.5).
“Our data also shows that young people typically drive older vehicles, around 16-20 years old, and many of these cars don’t have ADAS. Older models also lack modern safety features that contribute to higher safety ratings,” says MacGregor.
AMI has also just partnered with Ryda, the nationwide Road Safety Education (RSE) prgramme aimed at high school students.