Many people in Hartford, Connecticut, don’t think of the color of vehicles as a risk factor relating to crashes. Data reveals some vehicle colors can affect the likelihood of an accident.
Safe vehicle colors
The Kelly Blue Book lists silver as the top choice for vehicle colors, and white as the second, but white is safer. According to Monash University studies, white has a 12% less chance of getting into motor vehicle accidents than darker colors. A white vehicle is much easier to see at night and thieves are less likely to steal them for this reason.
The Monash study ranked yellow second as a safe color, and many taxes and school buses are yellow for this reason. Orange is considered a safe color since it stands out in most surroundings, and other safe colors include beige and off-white.
School buses are a mix of orange and yellow because it gives them 1.24 times more lateral vision than red. Gold is a rare vehicle color, and like orange, it is easy to spot because few surroundings are the same color.
The least safe colors
Black ranks the lowest in vehicle safety, increasing the chance of a vehicle crash by 10 to 20%. Black is harder to spot, especially in the dark, and it often doesn’t stand out in most environments. Red can increase the risk of crashes by 7% because it is the color of stop signs, brake lights, and red lights.
Blue vehicles are safer than black vehicles but still have a 7% higher risk of getting into a crash. Studies also show darker shades of blue are more likely to get into a crash, and blue shades blend with the sky. Green is regaining popularity, and while safer than black or blue, it often blends with trees, hills, and shrubbery.
Road safety is influenced by many factors other than vehicle color. Since Connecticut is an at-fault state, parties injured in a crash may seek damages against at-fault drivers.
