The company’s subsidiary AAMI collated data to show that the highest number of shopping centre car park crashes occurred in December (2513), followed by January (1881).

Mackay’s Caneland Central shopping centre was the worst in Queensland for it, while Melbourne Doncaster took out the national prize. Thursday was the worst day for shopping centre bingles and the time between midday and 4pm was the worst time of day.

AAMI found 42 per cent of collisions occurred when the vehicle was parked and the owner was away from the car and about a quarter involved the driver hitting something stationary like a bollard, wall or a trolley.

Reversing a vehicle accounted for the 22 per cent of collisions and female drivers and those aged over 50 were most likely to be involved in a shopping centre collision.

But Australians were also adapting to avoid car park prangs. About 20 per cent shop online to avoid the hassle of crowds and carparks and 42 per cent said they did their shopping when it was quieter.

Believe it or not, almost 60 per cent of those surveyed said they would leave a note if they were involved in a car park crash and no one witnessed it, but that number dropped dramatically if the damage was minor. Only 22 per cent said they would leave a note in those circumstances.

Six per cent said they would not own up to nudging a car and would drive away without leaving a note.

Suncorp said it often took almost twice as long to find an empty car parking space during Christmas which added to a driver’s frustration.