When people buy a new car, they usually don’t just think about function – because form does matter. Everybody has preferences when it comes to the size, shape, make, model and features of the vehicles they own.
That includes (of course) the color of the vehicle. While you may be tempted to go with your favorite color – or maybe whatever is trendy — you should actually consider your choice carefully. It could ultimately affect your safety on the road.
What are the safest colors for cars?
If your mind is on safety, the safest car color by far is plain white or some shade of yellow. According to one study, white vehicles have the lowest number of crashes. Other studies indicate that yellow vehicles are the safest – along with cream or beige. While less popular, orange and gold are also pretty good choices for safety.
Why are these the safest colors for your car? It all comes down to visibility. In low light or urban traffic, bright colors are less likely to blend in with the surroundings.
The least safe colors
That brings us to the discussion of the least safe colors for a vehicle. Despite being very popular, silver and gray are both very dangerous colors for cars because they blend in with the concrete and stone in urban areas. Neither shade is quite as risky as black, however. Black cars are a whopping 47% more likely to be involved in a wreck than any light-colored vehicle.
So, what about colors that are not exactly light or dark, like green, red and blue? All are problematic. Some shades of red can be bright in daylight, but not in the dark, and all of them tend to blend into traffic elements. Green and blue easily get lost in dim light, so that makes them way less safe.
Regardless of the color of your vehicle, you can end up in a crash through no fault of your own. If you’re injured, make sure that you find out what it takes to pursue fair compensation for your losses.