When picking a color for your vehicle, there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, if you plan to resell it at some point, you might want to pick a popular color. Drivers looking to insure their vehicle for less will also want to look at which vehicles get better rates. All that being said, safety should also definitely be on your list of things to check. Some vehicle colors tend to get into fewer accidents than others, which can affect insurance rates and thus resale value. Let’s take a look at some of the best vehicle colors for safety-conscious drivers.
So what is the safest color car to drive? Light colors like white and yellow are at slightly lower risk of passive collisions where the drivers aren’t at fault. A study by the Monash University Accident Research Center found that while light colors were less likely to get into these accidents, statistically, the light colors weren’t significantly more or less safe compared to each other. When picking a light color for your vehicle then, there are a few other factors to consider.
White is currently the most popular car color in North America. White vehicles are in more demand, meaning their insurance rates tend to be lower and their resale values tend to be higher. They’re easy to see against the black road and in low-light conditions, which is a plus. Unfortunately, their popularity also means white cars don’t stand out too much next to other white vehicles. Rain or fog also affects white vehicle visibility.
New York taxis use their iconic color for a reason. The bright color grabs the eye, even in low-visibility weather like fog and rain. Yellow also contrasts nicely with the black road. Unfortunately, yellow isn’t for everyone, and reselling your yellow vehicle might be difficult depending on the exact vehicle make and model. The color can be too bright for a lot of people.
Orange had pretty solid numbers across the board in the Monash University study. The study showed that orange was marginally safer than white in dark environments. That being said, as expected, orange’s numbers suffered at dawn and dusk, when it was most likely to blend with sunset and sunrise colors. Like yellow, orange is a bright color that not everyone will appreciate depending on the shade and the vehicle.
Now it’s time to look at car colors to avoid if safety is your primary concern. Black vehicles are 12% more likely to get into crashes than white vehicles. Gray follows closely at 11% more likely. Silver holds fast at 10%, and blue and red are tied at 7%.
Black vehicles might look sleek and luxurious, but they do come with some risks. As we’ve mentioned, they’re 12% more crash-prone than white vehicles, especially in low-light and low-visibility conditions. They’re also more likely to get into more serious crashes because of how they can blend into the dark against the black roads and in low-light conditions. Black vehicles do, however, benefit from being nearly as popular as white ones. Black vehicles are easier to resell and insure.
Because they’re a little lighter than black vehicles, gray vehicles are also a little easier to see. Their contrast against their surroundings is still low though, meaning gray is still a risky car color to have. Gray vehicles can blend into the tarmac even during the day. They’re also 25% more likely to end up in an accident during dawn or dusk, and they also end up in more serious accidents overall than lighter vehicles.
While silver was once deemed safer than white, the 2003 British Medical Journal article on which that belief was built has since been proven false. Silver vehicles might be brighter than gray ones, but they’re only marginally less likely to end up in a car crash when compared to gray vehicle statistics. Compared to white vehicles, silver ones are 15% more likely to end up in a car crash at dawn or dusk. Silver is the third most popular vehicle color overall though, so it does have some of white and black’s popularity perks.
Both dark and light blue vehicles can encounter visibility issues on the road. Darker blue vehicles are similar to black vehicles in that they can blend in with the road and the shadows at night. Light blue vehicles blend into the horizon or sky when it’s sunny out.
Red vehicles tie with blue ones at fourth place for the most accident-prone vehicles in the Monash University study. This might be a little surprising considering red seems like one of the bright colors. Such isn’t the case for all red vehicles though. Red encompasses maroons and darker, more muted crimsons. This gives them the same problem as black vehicles. In addition, while it isn’t true for all red-vehicle drivers, red is a popular choice for those with more aggressive driving styles, which can make this color more accident-prone..
You’ll notice that for the most part, visibility is the main factor that affects whether a vehicle color is safe or risky. Light vehicles are simply easier to see and thus easier to avoid. Reaction time is everything, and the milliseconds it takes for a driver’s vision to recognize a vehicle can make all the difference. Darker vehicles can blend into their environments, making accidental collisions more likely.
All that being said, a 7 to 12% increased accident likelihood isn’t exactly huge. Other factors affect car accident statistics, like driver quality, vehicle conditions, overall environmental visibility, and weather. Now that you know what color cars get in the most accidents, remember to look into other factors that affect your road safety. Always take precautions when driving, no matter your vehicle’s color.
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