Undoubtedly, Christmas is a wonderful time. Friends and family gather (respecting current COVID-19 guidelines, of course), a smorgasbord of festive food is served, crackers are popped, presents exchanged and a mysterious beverage known as eggnog – never to be seen again until the following year – is consumed.

Unfortunately, Christmas also has a funny way of making people go a bit berserk, especially on our roads.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the depths of the shopping centre car park, with RAA data showing a 13% increase in car park crashes last December compared to the monthly average.

Alarmingly, the average claim amount has increased by 28% over the past 5 years and now sits at a sizeable $3200.

But fear not. We come to you with advice on how to steer clear of car park jostles, and what to do if you’re unfortunate enough to be caught in one.

A lesson in etiquette

When its 40 degrees, your kids are losing the plot in the back seat and you’ve been stuck behind someone attempting to reverse parallel park for the past 5 minutes, it can be easy to lose your cool.

But a little bit of courtesy goes a long way.

We asked RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain how he manages to remain calm in chaotic car-parking situations. Here are some of his top etiquette tips.

• Make sure the empty park you’re about to squeeze into is big enough for your car. If you’re unsure, don’t try
• Make sure you park parallel with the bay and your vehicle is centred. This is particularly important if you drive a wider car or SUV.
• Avoid parking near large pillars or walls that block visibility.
• Don’t wheel your shopping trolley through parked vehicles – use designated travel paths instead. Trolleys can be unwieldy, particularly when full. They’re difficult to control and can easily scratch or dent car panels.

• If you see someone reversing out of a parking bay and you want their spot, make sure to give them enough room to exit. Ensure you have your indicator on so other drivers know your intention.

• Take a minute to place your empty trolley in the designated collection area, rather than leaving it for fellow drivers to navigate around.
• If someone reaches a park before you, do the right thing and let them take it.
• Keep an eye out for pedestrians rushing between parked vehicles.
• Consider sharing the shopping run with a family member or a friend. You’ll be sharing the load and saving on fuel at the same time.

So you’ve had a bingle

Unfortunately, even the most careful drivers can get caught up in Christmas car park chaos. If you’ve had a crash, here’s what to do next.

If you’ve crashed into another moving vehicle

• Exchange the following details with the other party:

1. The name, address and phone number of both the driver and the owner of the car (they might not be the same person) – it’s a good idea to take a photo of the other party’s driver’s licence too.
2. The names of your insurance companies.
3. Details of the cars involved including the rego number, colour, make and model.
4. The date, time and exact location of the crash.

• Record the contact details of any witnesses.
• Take photos of the damage and position of both vehicles.
• Ask to view any car park security footage available if you think there might be conflicting versions of the crash.
• Call your insurer.
• Report your crash to police if damage exceeds $3000. You’re legally obligated to do this within 48 hours of the crash. If you’re unsure of the damage cost, check with your insurer.
• If someone’s injured (whether it’s minor or fatal), you must tell police in person within 90 minutes, either at the scene or at a police station.

If you’ve crashed into a parked car and the driver isn’t present

• Leave a note on the car you hit, so the driver can get your contact details as soon as possible.
• Record the contact details of any witnesses.
• Take photos of the damage and position of both vehicles.
• Call your insurer.
• Report a crash to police if damage exceeds $3000 or if someone is injured.

If you come back to your car and notice it’s been damaged

• Look for a note on your car from the driver responsible. Get their contact details as soon as possible.
• Ask if they have any pictures of their car.
• Ask to view any car park security footage available.
• Call your insurer.
• Report a crash to police if damage exceeds $3000.

If you witness a crash

• If you witness a crash in a car park, you aren’t legally required to report it. It is, however, good practice to do so, especially if you think someone’s been injured or damage exceeds $3000.