A white car could save your skin

Experts say white is the safest car colour. Mini Roadster shown.

Experts say white is the safest car colour. Mini Roadster shown.

Published Apr 4, 2012

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Car buyers interested in a good resale price tend to opt for black, silver or dark blue vehicles but when it comes to safety, experts say white should be the colour of choice.

According to Germany's Tuev-Nord testing agency, white cars are less likely to be crashed into by other vehicles when the ambient light is poor. Black cars are the least visible, even in bright sunshine, followed by popular shades such as anthracite and grey.

Accident figures from around the world reflect the risks posed by darker colours. Bright and vibrant colours such as whites and yellows reflect the light better, making them more visible even at a distance.

A Swedish study found that pink cars were involved in the fewest accidents while in Australia research conducted by the Monash University Accident Unit found that black cars were 12 per cent more likely than white ones to be involved in an accident. This was followed by grey and silver cars.

A study at New Zealand's University of Auckland also linked car colour to rates of injury-causing accidents. The study showed that those who drove brown cars were at the highest risk of sustaining an injury in a car crash.

Colors such as black and green also showed a higher risk of involvement in injury-causing accidents. -Sapa-dpa

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