- Written By: L. S. Wynn
- Edited By: L. S. Wynn
-
Copyright Protected:
2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Auckland, New Zealand indicates that there may be a link between car color and serious injuries as a result of car accidents. Their findings were published in the The British Medical Journal in December 2003.
The study involved accidents in New Zealand between 1998 and 1999. According to their findings, drivers of brown cars had the highest risk of sustaining serious injuries caused by auto accidents. Black and green cars also had elevated risks.
Which are the safest cars? Drivers of silver-colored cars, according to the report, have a 50% less chance of being involved in an injury-causing accident than do drivers of white cars! While the results are surprising, more studies need to be performed before we all rush out and repaint or replace our vehicles.
The scientists did not explain why there was such a disparity in accident rates. Perhaps lighter colored cars are more visible, or perhaps the people who choose such cars are a self-selecting group of safe drivers.
How popular are the various car colors? According to DuPont Automotive's 2003 Color Popularity Report, the top three colors (silver, white and black) account for more than 50% of new cars manufactured for North America. Here is a chart highlighting the top ten most popular car colors:
| Color | Percentage of New Cars | |
| Silver | 20.2% |  |
| White | 18.4% | |
| Black | 11.6% | |
| Med/Dark Gray | 11.5% | |
| Light Brown | 8.8% | |
| Med/Dark Blue | 8.5% | |
| Medium Red | 6.9% | |
| Med/Dark Green | 5.3% | |
| Bright Red | 3.8% | |
| Dark Red | 0.9% | |
| Source: DuPont Automotive | ||
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anon173004
Post 10 |
There is certainly a correlation here. But it's hard to say what the causation would be. Either silver/grey cars sell more then any other color, or the fact the the silver can easily blend in with its surroundings and especially with a grey sky. It could even be a combination. But I'm certain that both variables will affect the total number of accidents the question is which one is the biggest culprit. Just my opinion. |
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anon108395
Post 9 |
Ok--I looked this up because when I owned an old (23 years old!) Honda Accord for two years, I had no accidents. I have been driving my bright red Toyota Tercel for less than two years, and three people have already run into me! One person backed up into me, another person hit my car while parking next to me, and today a little old lady pulled out from a stop sign and rammed me in the right rear panel! I am not so sure how color works--but I'm beginning to consider a new paint job! |
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anon90662
Post 8 |
I also heard that red cars have more accidents than any other car color. Where can I find those statistics? Dani G.
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anon69833
Post 7 |
If silver is the most common color for cars on the roads, keeping the proportions it should be expected that silver cars are the most involved in accidents -- that's how I look at it. God forbid, I just bought a new silver one! |
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anon54418
Post 6 |
This is also true for thefts. Statistics show silver cars are also most likely to be stolen and white coloured vans. Twenty years ago, it was red cars. This is due to there being more silver coloured cars and white coloured vans on the road than any other colour.
Therefore the report should state what percentage of vehicles coloured silver compared to how many silver cars there are which would show a more correct result. |
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anon20265
Post 5 |
I think there is a typo in this article -- all other articles on the web say black cars were found to be the worst, but this article says white -- which doesn't go with the very next sentence in this article explaining that the lighter the color the safer the car.
Editor's reply: The graph in this article reflects the most popular car colors, *not* the rate of accident of cars of a specific color. Additionally, different studies will reflect different findings due to what criteria they choose to examine. The New Zealand study assessed the rate of injury and color of car, not simply the rate at which colors were involved in accidents.
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anon19222
Post 4 |
Hi!I found your article very interesting. Recently I bought a silver car. It was quite surprising for me to read in your article that people driving silver cars have a 50% less chance of being involved in an injury-causing accident than do drivers of white cars. Because I was always under the impression that most accidents occur at night and that white cars are safer because they are more visible during the night? Anyhow. Thanks for your nice web page. |
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anon17084
Post 3 |
i have heard few yrs ago from a man who worked in the auto ins industry that silver cars were most color to get in accidents as they blend in with the scenery and road color and dawn and dusk and when they take a left turn the drivers taking right turn at a light can really see them coming, i thought this was no true until it happened to me about 4 times me making a right turn and the other driver taking his left turn from the opposite side of the road and almost collided with my car as i did not see the silver cars coming across and into the lane. almost mishaps, but i will say at 73 yrs of age i have never had an accident since i was driving since i was 19. i am female and never even got a ticket for anything, but the silver cars making a left are a problems like the guy said who was in the insurance business. what do u all think? i do wear glasses for yrs and get my regular 6 month checkups. |
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anon16213
Post 2 |
Yellow would definitely have a smaller percentage. How many cars do you see that are yellow? |
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anon1516
Post 1 |
At one time, there were National Statistics reporting that red cars had more accidents per capita than any other color of vehicle. Yellow was reported to have the fewest. Are these statistics still valid or have they changed? Anyone know? Thank you. SFarquhar, Houston, TX |
