Australians are confident behind the wheel, but new research released by national insurer AAMI suggests we may not always recognise our own driving ‘blind spots’.
AAMI’s research has exposed a striking gap between how Australians see themselves behind the wheel, and how they admit they actually drive.
The research revealed:
- Nearly three in four drivers (73 per cent), believe they are safer than other motorists.
- Almost one in three say they are “way safer”.
- 41 per cent say the statement that best describes their driving is: “It’s the other drivers who are the real worry.”
Yet when Australians reflect on their own behaviour, more than half admit driving while tired (52 per cent), almost half (49 per cent) admit to speeding and more than one in three (36 per cent) admit to mentally drifting off while behind the wheel.
To help Australians recognise those blind spots, AAMI has identified five relatable driving personalities.
- The Multitasker: Juggles driving with passengers, children, work or technology. Thirty-six per cent of Australians admit becoming mentally distracted while driving, while 28 per cent have been distracted by passengers or technology inside the vehicle.
- The Zoner-Out: Is physically behind the wheel, but fatigue or mental overload means their attention is somewhere else. More than half (52 per cent) admit driving while tired, while 36 per cent say they have mentally drifted off while driving.
- The In-a-Hurry Driver: Becomes impatient, drives faster or makes rushed decisions under pressure. Almost half (49 per cent) admit speeding, while 39 per cent drive faster when running late or stressed.
- The Optimist: Takes a shortcut to save time, assuming everything will work out. Around one in ten Australians admit to doing things such as pushing through an amber light or making a quick lane change to save time.
- The Overconfident Local: Becomes more relaxed or complacent because the road feels familiar. Almost one in three Australians (30 per cent) say they feel most comfortable driving close to home.
Earlier this year, the 2026 AAMI Crash Index found nose-to-tail collisions, failure to give way crashes and collisions with stationary objects remain Australia’s top three most common crash types.
