There are many factors that contribute to which cars are more likely to get pulled over for speeding. The most obvious is of course the driver’s behavior – speeding excessively or driving recklessly will get anyone a ticket regardless of what car they’re in. However, it’s also true that certain vehicle colors and types tend to attract more attention from traffic police. In this article, we’ll examine the evidence on which car colors correlate to higher incidences of speeding tickets.
Why Would Color Matter?
You might think that only a driver’s behavior matters when it comes to speeding enforcement. But there are some good reasons why police may focus more on certain colored cars when looking for speeders:
– Visibility: Bright colors like red tend to stand out more and catch an officer’s eye. Darker colors can blend in more at high speeds.
– Assumptions: There are stereotypes about drivers of certain vehicle types and colors being more aggressive.
– Reflectivity: The amount of light reflected from the paint can make a car appear to be going faster than it is.
– Resale value: Some research suggests drivers of higher-value vehicles speed more often. Color can indicate cost.
So while biased policing based on car color alone is unacceptable, there are practical factors that can lead to some colors getting flagged for speeding more often.
Research on Car Color and Speeding Tickets
Several studies have attempted to gather data on which car colors have the highest probability of getting speeding tickets. Here are some of the more notable findings:
– An analysis by GPS company Inrix looked at over 142,000 speeding tickets issued from 2009-2015. It found that purple cars received the most tickets per capita, followed by gray and black vehicles. Green and blue cars had the lowest incidence of speeding tickets.
– A survey by Budget Direct Insurance of over 4,000 drivers found that black cars were the most likely to be stopped for speeding, with up to 47% of black car drivers reporting having been pulled over. The lowest rates were for green and blue cars.
– Data scientist Nikolaos Akkizidis analyzed over 300,000 speeding tickets issued in Massachusetts between 2017-2020. He found that purple and orange cars had the greatest proportion of tickets compared to their prevalence on the road. Black was also near the top.
– A Canadian study analyzed 8 years of speeding ticket data and found that drivers of yellow and red cars were issued more tickets per capita than other colors. Black and gray cars were in the middle.
So while the exact order differs slightly, these surveys converge on darker-colored cars, especially black, gray, and purple, as having the highest incidences of speeding tickets. Lighter shades like green, blue, silver, and white tend to have lower incidences.
Factors That May Contribute to Color Disparities
What might explain the apparent color disparities in which cars get pulled over for speeding? A few key factors likely contribute:
– **Visibility** – Brighter, lighter colors show up more clearly in an officer’s periphery and grab their attention. Darker colors that blend into the shadows and asphalt can be harder to spot speeding.
– **Reflectivity** – Shiny and metallic paints reflect more light, which can give the illusion of speeding even when driving the limit. Matte wraps and paints reduce reflectivity.
– **Driver demographics** – Different vehicle colors may correlate to age, gender, and risk-taking tendencies. For example, younger drivers tend to prefer louder colors and speed more often.
– **Sports cars** – Many high-speed sports car models like yellow Lamborghinis come in noticeable colors that attract scrutiny. Their drivers also speed more.
– **Assumptions** – Police may unconsciously profile cars of certain colors as being more likely to speed based on biases and stereotypes. Lacking other cues, color can play a larger role.
So in essence, visible colors attract more attention, reflective colors appear faster, risky drivers choose bold colors, and assumptions about colors impact police behavior. All contribute to the differences seen in the data.
Which Colors Are Safest from Speeding Tickets?
Based on the research, we can conclude that brighter, lighter, matte car colors correlate to lower incidences of speeding tickets compared to darker, glossy, or metallic colors:
– White, silver, and light gray are among the safest colors and attract the least attention from police when speeding. They are common colors that blend in.
– Non-metallic blues, greens, and lighter reds are also lower-risk colors according to the data. Blue and green, in particular, stood out.
– Yellows are also on the safer side, though bright yellow sports cars face more scrutiny. Avoid reflective golds.
– Black, charcoal gray, darker red, purple, and custom colors attract the most law enforcement attention. Black cars consistently are flagged for speeding the most.
So in summary, choosing common lighter, matte paint colors like white, light blue, or light silver may help avoid speeding tickets. Stay away from black, dark colors, or bright hues to reduce attention. Of course, safe driving is still the best way to avoid fines, regardless of your car color.
| Safest Colors | Most Ticketed Colors |
|---|---|
| White | Black |
| Silver | Purple |
| Light gray | Dark gray |
| Light blue | Bright red |
| Green | Orange |
Other Factors That Contribute to Speeding Tickets
While car color plays a measurable role, it’s not the only factor determining speeding enforcement. Some other elements that impact risk include:
– **Vehicle type** – Sports cars and high-performance models attract more attention. Family cars and minivans get less scrutiny.
– **Customization** – Modded vehicles with custom paint jobs or accessories stand out more to police on the road.
– **Window tinting** – Excessively dark tinting arouses suspicion and obscures driver vision. Lighter tinting raises fewer flags.
– **Driving record** – Drivers with past tickets and offenses get profiled more aggressively by traffic enforcement.
– **Road type** – Tickets are given out more on highways than suburban side streets. Urban areas fall in between.
– **Time of day** – Speeding enforcement peaks during rush hour commute times or late nights on weekends.
– **Location** – Some geographic regions and jurisdictions enforce speeding more strictly than others.
So while vehicle color matters, many other variables impact your risk of getting ticketed for exceeding the speed limit. Driving behavior trumps all, of course.
Conclusion
Research shows that certain car colors do correlate to higher incidences of speeding tickets compared to others. Specifically, black, dark gray, red, purple, and custom colors tend to attract the most law enforcement attention and tickets. Light shades like white, silver, blue, and green are less likely to get pulled over when speeding. However, many other factors beyond just color impact speeding enforcement. Safe driving behavior is still the best way to avoid fines, regardless of what color your car is. So drive responsibly, follow speed limits, and hopefully you can avoid seeing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror.
