Exploring the connection between car color, safety, and other factors that contribute to crashes.
Are you more vulnerable to car accidents if you drive a certain color car?
It might sound strange, but the answer is yes, and the statistics are worth investigating. By educating yourself on road risks, even unusual ones, you’ll increase your odds of avoiding accidents that lead to life-changing injuries.
If you’ve already been hurt in a crash, our Atlanta car accident attorney can help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you deserve.
The relationship between car color and visibility
Studies have shown that certain car colors are more likely to be involved in accidents.
Popular car colors and their impact
on accident risk
According to Kelley Blue Book, white is the most popular color choice for minivans, pickup trucks, sedans and luxury cars alike. White is also considered the safest color. In fact, in comparison to white vehicles, black cars are 12% more likely to be involved in an accident.
Others cars colors with an increased likelihood of a crash include:
Black (12%)
Gray (11%)
Silver (10%)
Blue (7%)
Red (7%)
While there are several possible explanations for this correlation, the most obvious is visibility.
High-risk car colors at
dawn and dusk
Black cars are harder to see on the road, especially at night. Gray and silver cars are monochrome in a way that decreases their contrast with the surrounding environment.
Meanwhile, bold colors stand out, making them easier to spot and, therefore, easier to navigate around.
Other statistics worth noting involve vehicle visibility at different times of the day. For example, at dawn or dusk, these car colors are far more likely to be involved in an accident compared to white cars:
Black (47%)
Gray (25%)
Silver (15%)
The role of car color in determining the severity of an accident
In addition to their overall likelihood of being involved in a crash, car color also has a correlation with crash severity. In other words, certain car colors are more likely to be involved in car accidents leading to injury and death.
These statistics follow the same trends as ones related to overall visibility: Cars with a low level of visibility tend to be involved in a higher severity of accidents. These “low visibility colors” include:
Black
Gray
Silver
Blue
Green
Purple
The psychological effects of car color on a driver’s behavior
Does the color of a person’s car influence their driving behavior or their perception of risk?
The short answer is yes. While this kind of data can be hard to quantify, multiple studies into color psychology have shown that it extends to drivers as well.
For example, red cars have been linked to stronger levels of aggression in their owners, especially when the owners are male. Men who prefer the color red tend to have higher levels of testosterone, and they tend to link the shade to characteristics like aggression, strength, and dominance. Red can also provoke other drivers on the road, regardless of their own vehicle color. Research has indicated that drivers of all types are more likely to experience “physiological arousal” when they see the color red, especially in the context of perceived misconduct.
One study tracked the responses of drivers when a car in front of them refused to move fast enough at a changing light. When that car was red, other drivers honked faster and longer than for any other color.
The history of car color preferences
In the 1950s, bright colors like red, green, and blue dominated the streets. In recent years, however, consumer preference has shifted significantly. Today, almost 75% of all cars on the road are white, black, silver or gray.
Why has car color preference changed over time?
One reason might be purely economic. Paint jobs cost money, and dazzling colors are more likely to need frequent touch-ups to stay attractive.
Another reason could be related to the technological rise of society. Many of today’s gadgets are monochrome, leading to a general consumer preference for sleek, practical and multipurpose shades.
Some manufacturers have also even given credit to Apple for the newfound trendiness of white.
The cultural significance of car color
While Americans prefer neutral shades for their cars, this isn’t the case in all countries.
Drivers in Sweden, for example, buy orange cars at higher rates than anyone else in Europe. Drivers in Denmark love white and hate black; drivers in Turkey love black and hate white. There are sometimes easily understood reasons for a car color’s popularity. Those in tropical climates, for instance, tend to avoid dark-colored cars that absorb heat. There can also be an element of national pride in color preferences: The Czech Republic sells a lot of red and blue cars, and coincidentally, red and blue are the colors of their flag.
On the other hand, some car color choices are inexplicable. Why does France prefer cream-colored vehicles at 4 times the rate as Hungary? It’s hard to say.
Despite the rainbow of car colors throughout the world, it should be noted that white, black, and silver are still the top picks for American and European drivers overall. Monochrome vehicles are on the rise everywhere.
Types of severe injuries suffered in car accidents
Cars of every color can be involved in crashes, and the injuries sustained from these crashes can be quite severe.
Spinal injuries are a frequent cause of hospitalizations after car accidents. In the most extreme cases, they can cause paralysis or paraplegia.
Car accidents are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). More than 50,000 people per year die from TBIs, and double that number are hurt or disabled by them.
Other common injuries from car accidents include the following:
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding or brain hemorrhage
- Limb loss
Even minor car crashes can cause serious injuries, and some leave lasting effects that change how you work or move. In Georgia, if these result in permanent injuries, you may qualify for Permanent Partial Disability Benefits. PPD benefits help compensate workers who lose part of their ability to earn a living because of an on-the-job injury or accident-related condition.
For a broader look at what injured workers can receive, our Georgia workers’ compensation benefits guide breaks down the full range of support available, and when a WC attorney may be able to help.
For information about what happens when an injury turns fatal, check out our workers’ comp death benefits by state. No matter what state you’re in, it’s a great resource for understanding how different programs support families after a work-related death.
Atlanta’s most dangerous highways
If you’re a driver in Atlanta, you should know that certain roads are more dangerous than others. The worst are in the Atlanta metro area, which has been dubbed the most accident-prone grid in the entire state of Georgia.
Specific roads to avoid include:
- State Route 42
- Interstate 20
- Interstate 285
- State Route 85
If you can’t avoid them, try to take extra care along your commute.
Why hire a Georgia workers’ comp attorney?
If you get injured while driving for work, you’ll want to hire an experienced workplace accident attorney who is experienced in work-related accidents. They can help you navigate bills, claims, court appearances, insurance investigations and more. They’ll also be familiar with the specific legal processes of filing for workers’ compensation in Georgia. Every state is different, so make sure to hire someone who understands local policies and procedures so that they can maximize the benefits paid to you.
At Atlanta Gerber & Elkins Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience helping injured workers across Georgia recover compensation after an injury. Let us handle negotiations with your employer and their insurance company so you can focus on your recovery.
