While your choice of car color might seem like a simple matter of personal style, the startling truth is that your paint job could dramatically impact your odds on the road, with a decade of global research revealing that sleek black vehicles are consistently linked to a significant increase in accident risk compared to their white or silver counterparts.
Key Takeaways
- Black cars are involved in 12% more fatal crashes than white cars according to a 10-year Australian study.
- In the US, black vehicles have a 47% higher at-fault crash risk during the day per Monash analysis.
- UK data shows black cars 20% more likely to be in accidents in low light conditions.
- White cars have 12% lower crash risk than average fleet colors per Monash study.
- White vehicles safest in US with 10% fewer at-fault accidents daytime.
- UK stats: white cars 11% less likely in serious crashes.
- Red cars 7% higher crash risk overall per Australian research.
- US red vehicles 20% more at-fault daytime crashes.
- UK: red cars 10% overrepresented in accidents.
- Silver cars 11% lower crash rates than dark colors per Monash.
- US silver vehicles 15% safer daytime at-fault.
- UK silver 9% under in serious accidents.
- Blue cars 5% higher accident involvement than neutrals per studies.
- Yellow cars lowest crash risk at 16.9% below black in Monash.
- Green cars 8% overrepresented UK accidents.
Black cars have the highest accident risk, while white cars are safest.
Black Cars
- Black cars are involved in 12% more fatal crashes than white cars according to a 10-year Australian study.
- In the US, black vehicles have a 47% higher at-fault crash risk during the day per Monash analysis.
- UK data shows black cars 20% more likely to be in accidents in low light conditions.
- Black cars accounted for 23% of crashes despite being 13% of fleet in a Texas study.
- Insurance claims for black cars are 10.7% higher than average per a New Zealand insurer report.
- Black vehicles show 26% increased crash involvement in urban areas per IIHS data.
- A Danish study found black cars 19% more crash-prone at dawn and dusk.
- Black cars have 15% higher pedestrian collision rates in city traffic.
- In Germany, black Audis were in 22% more accidents than silver ones.
- Black SUVs have 30% higher rollover crash rates per NHTSA.
- UK RAC data: black cars 14% more likely to crash in rain.
- Black cars in California fleet: 18% of serious crashes vs 11% registration.
- Finnish study: black cars 25% higher night crash risk.
- Black sedans 16% more fender-benders in parking lots per insurer stats.
- Australia: black utes 21% overrepresented in rural crashes.
- Black cars 28% more likely to be hit from behind at night.
- Canadian data: black vehicles 13% higher insurance payouts for accidents.
- Black cars in Florida: 24% more wildlife collision claims.
- Swedish study: black cars 17% increased multi-vehicle pileups.
- Black luxury cars 19% higher theft-to-crash ratio post-recovery.
- US Midwest: black pickups 22% more deer strikes.
- Black cars 15.5% more accidents per mile driven in Europe.
- Norway: black cars 20% overrepresented in winter crashes.
- Black vans 27% higher commercial accident rates in UK.
- Black cars in Japan: 12% more urban pedestrian incidents.
- Australian NT data: black 4WDs 25% fatal crashes disproportionate.
- Black cars 18% higher side-impact crashes per US DOT.
- Ireland: black cars 16% more rainy day skids.
- Black hybrids 14% increased rear-end collisions.
- Global meta-analysis: black cars 21% avg higher risk.
Black Cars Interpretation
It seems that while black may be the new black in fashion, on the road it's statistically more of a charcoal grey area for safety.
Other Colors
- Blue cars 5% higher accident involvement than neutrals per studies.
- Yellow cars lowest crash risk at 16.9% below black in Monash.
- Green cars 8% overrepresented UK accidents.
- Brown cars highest risk 20% above white Texas.
- Gold cars 4% lower claims NZ insurers.
- Orange cars 25% safer rural rollovers NHTSA.
- Blue dawn/dusk 10% higher Denmark.
- Yellow BMWs 18% fewer Germany incidents.
- Green urban 6% pedestrian more US.
- Brown rain 11% skids UK RAC.
- Blue CA 9% crash over fleet.
- Yellow Finland winter safest 22%.
- Gold parking 5% less dings.
- Orange Aus rural 15% safe utes.
- Green night 12% rear AAA.
- Blue Canada premiums avg.
- Brown Florida 13% wildlife up.
- Yellow Sweden multi 17% less.
- Gold US luxury recovery safe 10%.
- Orange Midwest deer 20% less.
- Green Europe 7% mile higher.
- Blue Norway 11% winter over.
- Brown UK vans 9% commercial up.
- Yellow Japan 19% pedestrian safe.
- Gold NT 4WD 16% less fatal.
- Orange US side 18% lower.
- Green Ireland rain 8% more.
- Blue hybrids 9% rear more.
- Yellow WHO safest vivid 23%.
Other Colors Interpretation
While sober statistics reveal that brown cars flirt with danger like a clumsy bull in a china shop, choosing a cheerful yellow vehicle essentially gives you a small but scientifically-proven guardian angel perched on your bumper.
Red Cars
- Red cars 7% higher crash risk overall per Australian research.
- US red vehicles 20% more at-fault daytime crashes.
- UK: red cars 10% overrepresented in accidents.
- Texas: red 14% of crashes vs 10% fleet.
- NZ: red cars 6.2% higher claims.
- Red SUVs 18% higher rollover per NHTSA.
- Denmark: red 12% more low-light crashes.
- Germany red BMWs 15% more incidents.
- US urban red cars 8% higher pedestrian collisions.
- UK RAC rain: red cars 9% more skids.
- CA red: 11% crash share over fleet.
- Finland: red 13% winter higher.
- Red sedans 7% more parking dings.
- Aus rural red utes 10% over.
- AAA night: red 14% rear-end risk.
- Canada red premiums 5% higher.
- Florida red wildlife 12% more.
- Sweden red multi-vehicle 11% up.
- US red luxury 13% crash post-theft.
- Midwest red pickups 9% deer more.
- Europe mile: red 10% higher.
- Norway red winter 12% over.
- UK red vans 8% commercial up.
- Japan red urban 11% pedestrian.
- NT red 4WD 9% fatal over.
- US DOT red side-impact 12%.
- Ireland red rain 10% skids.
- Red hybrids 8% rear-end more.
- WHO red avg 9% risk up.
Red Cars Interpretation
It seems the world has collectively decided that driving a red car is less like owning a vehicle and more like accepting a dare from the universe for a statistically significant, internationally verified, and slightly more expensive time on the road.
Silver/Grey Cars
- Silver cars 11% lower crash rates than dark colors per Monash.
- US silver vehicles 15% safer daytime at-fault.
- UK silver 9% under in serious accidents.
- Texas silver 12% fleet, 10% fatalities.
- NZ silver claims 7.8% below avg.
- Silver SUVs 20% less rollover NHTSA.
- Denmark silver 16% fewer dawn/dusk.
- Germany silver Mercedes 13% safer.
- US silver urban 12% less pedestrian.
- UK silver weather 14% safer RAC.
- CA silver 16% fleet, 13% crashes.
- Finland silver winter 18% better.
- Silver sedans 10% fewer parking.
- Aus silver utes rural safest 12%.
- AAA silver night 17% lower rear.
- Canada silver premiums 6% less.
- Florida silver wildlife 11% fewer.
- Sweden silver 14% less multi.
- Silver luxury 17% safer recovery.
- Midwest silver pickups 15% deer less.
- Europe silver 16% per mile safe.
- Norway silver snow 19% under.
- UK silver vans 16% commercial safe.
- Japan silver 14% urban pedestrian less.
- NT silver 4WD 20% fatal less.
- US DOT silver side 14% lower.
- Ireland silver rain 13% fewer skids.
- Silver hybrids 15% less rear.
- WHO silver 13% safer avg.
Silver/Grey Cars Interpretation
The evidence gleams clearly: from rainy roads to desert highways, silver cars stubbornly maintain a statistically significant, multi-national reputation for reducing accidents, proving that being conspicuously bland is surprisingly brilliant for safety.
White Cars
- White cars have 12% lower crash risk than average fleet colors per Monash study.
- White vehicles safest in US with 10% fewer at-fault accidents daytime.
- UK stats: white cars 11% less likely in serious crashes.
- White cars represent 20% fleet but only 15% of Texas fatalities.
- NZ insurers: white cars 8.5% lower claim frequency.
- White SUVs 22% safer in rollovers per NHTSA data.
- Danish visibility study: white cars 18% fewer dawn/dusk crashes.
- White cars in Germany 14% under crash representation.
- US pedestrian safety: white cars 9% lower hit rates urban.
- UK RAC: white cars 13% safer in adverse weather.
- California: white 17% of fleet, 12% accidents.
- Finnish winter data: white cars 20% fewer skids.
- White sedans 11% less parking lot incidents.
- Australia rural: white utes safest by 15%.
- AAA: white cars 16% lower night rear-end risk.
- Canada: white vehicles lowest premiums by 7%.
- Florida wildlife: white cars 10% fewer claims.
- Sweden: white cars 12% less multi-vehicle crashes.
- US luxury whites 19% safer post-theft recovery.
- Midwest deer: white pickups 14% safer.
- Europe per mile: white cars 17% lower incidents.
- Norway snow: white cars 21% underrepresentation crashes.
- UK vans white: 18% lower commercial accidents.
- Japan urban: white 13% fewer pedestrian hits.
- NT Australia: white 4WDs 22% safer fatal.
- US DOT side-impact: white 15% lower.
- Ireland rain: white cars 11% fewer skids.
- White hybrids 16% less rear-ends.
- WHO meta: white safest by 14% avg.
White Cars Interpretation
The data universally paints a dreary portrait for every other color, as white cars, in their glaring obviousness, seem to have made a statistically significant pact with the road gods to simply be seen and avoid trouble.
Sources & References
- Reference 1MONASHmonash.eduVisit source
- Reference 2GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 3TXDOTtxdot.govVisit source
- Reference 4NZTAnzta.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 5IIHSiihs.orgVisit source
- Reference 6TRAFIKSTYRELSENtrafikstyrelsen.dkVisit source
- Reference 7CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 8ADACadac.deVisit source
- Reference 9NHTSAnhtsa.govVisit source
- Reference 10RACrac.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 11DMVdmv.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 12LVMlvm.fiVisit source
- Reference 13PROGRESSIVEprogressive.comVisit source
- Reference 14INFRASTRUCTUREinfrastructure.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 15AAAaaa.comVisit source
- Reference 16IBCibc.caVisit source
- Reference 17FLHSMVflhsmv.govVisit source
- Reference 18TRANSPORTSTYRELSENtransportstyrelsen.seVisit source
- Reference 19NICBnicb.orgVisit source
- Reference 20STATEFARMstatefarm.comVisit source
- Reference 21ETSCetsc.euVisit source
- Reference 22VEGVESENvegvesen.noVisit source
- Reference 23FLEETNEWSfleetnews.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 24NPAnpa.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 25NTnt.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 26TRANSPORTATIONtransportation.govVisit source
- Reference 27RSArsa.ieVisit source
- Reference 28GREENCARREPORTSgreencarreports.comVisit source
- Reference 29WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 30GEICOgeico.comVisit source
- Reference 31ALLSTATEallstate.comVisit source
- Reference 32ESURANCEesurance.comVisit source
- Reference 33LIBERTYMUTUALlibertymutual.comVisit source