A write off is where a vehicle sustains damage sufficient for the vehicle to be written off the books of the insurance company These are categorised from Category A to Category D. While the highest number of vehicles written off were blue-coloured (22%) this corresponded with the number of blue coloured cars in the fleet and so blue is not considered a higher risk colour.
Similarly red, silver and black are written-off consistent with fleet averages. At the other end of the scale the colour white is the clear winner for safest vehicle colour. A very small number of white vehicles were recorded as written off (6%) in comparison with the fleet average for that colour. The research indicates that a driver of a green car is more than 40% more likely to have their vehicle written off than a driver of a white car.
The reasons for the colour green appearing at the top of the list may include:
- hedgerows in Ireland are green coloured making green vehicles more difficult to spot
- the army use green vehicles because they are easier to camouflage (which strengthens the argument that green is more difficult to spot on the road)
- green vehicles may not be picked up as quickly by the human eye – particularly using peripheral vision
-the colour green calms the mind which may – theoretically – lead to slower reactions times when confronted with a green vehicle
- In terms of air navigation Aer Lingus are green coloured but in the sky they are set against a blue/white background making them easier to spot – they also use navigation lights
- And Remember: all drivers should use day-time running lights for road safety. It is now mandatory in the EU for all manufactured cars and light commercials to be sold with day-time running lights (since February 2011)
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