Finding a direct relationship between car color and the risk of suffering an accident is a complex task that is generally not supported by solid scientific evidence. Even so, studies on the subject proliferate that try to explain any possible link between the color of cars and road safety.
Factors such as safe driving, the condition of the vehicle and traffic conditions are much more decisive in preventing accidents than the color of the car. But various statistics suggest that certain colors on the road may be more visible in certain lighting and weather conditions, which could influence the perception and reaction of other drivers.
A recent report from carVertical, a company dedicated to providing vehicle history reports, concludes that brown cars are more prone to accidents. It is important to note that this information lacks a solid scientific basis and is based solely on data collected from the 27 countries in which the company operates.
Among the vehicles that circulate on the road, brown ones (51%) are the ones that suffer the most damage. According to carVertical, cars of that color tend to be reliable, luxurious and comfortable, but these characteristics do not protect their occupants from accidents.
Next, yellow cars are, behind brown ones, the most prone to damage. 50.6% of all yellow vehicles reviewed on carVertical had dents or scratches, while red cars were close behind at 49.8%. There is a theory that yellow and red are associated with sports cars, which suggests that their owners love speed and risk, which is why vehicles in these shades have more damage than average.
“There is no direct correlation between the color of a car and its historical damage rate or average engine power. We can assume that all of these colors with the highest historical accident rates are usually chosen by drivers who want to stand out from the crowd. Maybe they can take a little more risk in their daily trips,” explains Matas Buzelis, automotive expert at carVertical.
Cars painted with lighter tones are the ones that suffer the least damage. According to carVertical research, gray (44.7%) and white (44.5%) are the safest car colors. This means that these vehicle colors are less prone to accidents, although it must be noted once again that accident statistics vary depending on many factors.
What is evident is that white cars stand out from their surroundings, making it easier for pedestrians and other drivers to notice them sooner, especially at night. On the other hand, it is surprising that gray vehicles are even safer than white ones considering that both gray and black are difficult colors to see on a rainy day.
The study notes that while orange is not the most common color on the used vehicle market, automotive experts also consider it a good option for those who want to be seen on the road.
