Backup cameras, automatic guidance systems, lane departure warnings and more are all commonly seen safety features in modern vehicles.
Yet, something very basic – your vehicle’s color – may actually have more influence on whether or not you end up in a crash than many other things. Here’s what you need to know:
Go bright – or go boring
Studies differ a little, but they all agree on one thing: The two safest colors out there for a vehicle are either a bright, cheery yellow or plain, basic white. Depending on which study you ask, they’re both about 12% less likely to end up in a wreck than some other colors.
If overly sunny yellow makes you feel like you’re driving a banana or your just can’t consign yourself to boring old white, cream and beige are also good choices.
What gives vehicles these colors an edge on safety? It all comes down to visibility. Under most road conditions, even at night, yellow and white cars are the most visible – and that means that they’re more likely to be on other drivers’ radar.
Skip black – and forgo gray or silver
Black and dark gray cars do have a certain amount of elegance and sophistication, but they’re about the least-safe colors for your family car. If you’re thinking maybe you could go silver, think again.
All of these tend to blur into the cityscape and disappear against the highway itself. These vehicles can be particularly difficult to spot at night or in poor weather, when visibility is down.
Avoid red – and the same for blue
Red seems like a bright color, but it can actually be hard to make out a lot of red shades in low light. After dusk, what seem like a bright burgundy in the daylight could seem ink black at night. Blue cars have a similar problem.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine how something so small could make a difference to your safety. Unfortunately, not all drivers are as conscious of their decisions as they should be, and that leads to accidents. If you’ve been in a wreck due to another driver’s mistake, you have every right to expect fair compensation for your losses.