The illegal driving act Aussie drivers aren’t confessing to

New survey data from an Australian dashcam company revealed that more than 1 in 10 motorists said they were a victim of a hit-and-run.

If your daily commute involves driving on a regular basis, you’ve probably had some close encounters with some bad drivers.

And while dangerous motorists are increasingly called out on social media, with pages including Dashcam Owners Australia naming and shaming these drivers, new data has revealed a concerning trend among local motorists.

In a survey conducted by dashcam company Navman – which polled more than 1000 Australian drivers – more than 1 in 10 respondents reported being victims of a hit-and-run, with these participants unable to gather any evidence, leaving them to pay for their car repairs themselves.

Concerningly, only 13 per cent of respondents who were involved in an accident said the at-fault driver left a note with their information.

According to survey data, fewer than 15 per cent of participants said the at-fault driver provided their information following an accident. Picture: iStock

Respondents from South Australia and Western Australia reported the highest percentage of receiving a note post-accident, at 18 per cent each.

Meanwhile, Queenslanders were the most unfortunate hit-and-run victims, with only 7 per cent of respondents claiming they received the at-fault driver’s details.

Among survey participants, Baby Boomers were the most vulnerable to hit-and-run accidents, with only 6 per cent of drivers in this age group reporting they received a note following an accident. Conversely, Gen Z received the most road etiquette, with 18 per cent of survey participants reporting the at-fault driver left their details.

Hit-and-run incidents are illegal in Australia, and depending on where you live and the severity of the accident, offenders could face thousands of dollars in fines and potential imprisonment if it led to serious injury or death.

Additionally, failing to exchange details after a car accident is illegal in all states and territories, with guilty drivers facing monetary fines and demerit points.

Baby Boomers were the most vulnerable among the age groups surveyed, with only 6 per cent of motorists in this age bracket stating they received the at-fault driver's details. Picture: iStock

For example, in New South Wales, failing to provide details can incur a $423 penalty and three demerit points.

In Victoria, leaving the scene of an accident can result in a court-imposed penalty ranging from five penalty points ($1015) for first offences to 10 penalty units ($2030) for subsequent offences. Additionally, Victorian courts may impose a sentence of 14 days to one month in prison.

Depending on your insurance policy, hit-and-run incidents can be covered, though this isn’t always a guarantee.

Youi Insurance’s head of product for vehicles, Marni Jackson, said in an April 2026 media statement, “If you have comprehensive car insurance, your car’s covered for accidental damage, regardless of who caused the accident and whether or not you can provide us with the other driver’s details".

However, compulsory third-party, party and theft policies do not cover damage to your own vehicle.

Additionally, some insurers, such as Budget Direct, said, “If the other driver can’t be identified, you may still need to pay an excess”.

Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.

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