Some drivers think that there’s a connection between their personal safety and the color of the car that they drive. Although this might be pure speculation, some car colors are safer than others.
The Monash University Accident Research Center in Australia studied car accident rates by car color some time ago. It concluded that white cars are 12% less likely to be involved in an accident than black cars.
Safety Is Enhanced With a White Car
Crash safety isn’t the only reason why insurance companies like white cars, and it’s connected to theft. Car thieves prefer brighter and more modern colors. Their customers pay a higher price for cars of those colors. Car thieves have no problem stealing black cars though. That’s because they blend in with their surroundings easily.
Yellow Cars
Like white cars, yellow cars are also more visible on the road. That’s why taxi cabs and school buses are painted yellow. Some drivers might make a connection with the color yellow and giving due care and caution.
Does Your Car’s Color Influence Your Insurance Premiums?
No, the color of your car doesn’t influence your premium rate at all. Your insurance company is far more interested in whether you’ve had any tickets in the last year, what they were for and whether they were connected with an accident that you caused. So no, owners of red or orange cars don’t pay higher premiums owners of cars with lighter or darker colors.
Headlights or Driving Lights
The use of headlights or driving lights nearly eliminated any connection between car color and the risk of being in an accident. Using those lights is recommended, even during daylight hours and favorable weather. A Minnesota study found that when drivers use their headlights or driving lights, there was a reduction in accidents of somewhere between 5% and 10%. If the weather is bad, headlights or driving lights are strongly recommended for reducing the risk of an accident by making your vehicle more visible. Some states like Illinois even require the use of headlights when a car’s windshield wipers are operating.
Factors Other Than Color That Affect Accidents
It doesn’t really matter if you drive a white or yellow car with the lights on if you’re going to drive irresponsibly. Here are some driving behaviors that can drastically increase the chances of being in an accident.
- Speeding: Driving at an excessive rate of speed reduces a driver’s ability to avoid an accident. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, speeding is a factor in 26% of all accidents.
- Distracted Driving: Talking on a phone, texting or attending to personal grooming are all forms of distracted driving. The Insurance Information Institute reports that 9% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involve distracted drivers.
- Driving Under the Influence: Driving under the influence of alcohol drugs or a combination of the two contributes to thousands of accidents or deaths every year. Drivers should know better than to drive while under the influence, especially when alternative forms like Uber are readily available.
The color of a car that a person drives probably does factor into getting hit by another vehicle, but driver behavior is far more important. Drive safely, responsibly and defensively, no matter what color vehicle you’re operating.
