My father was talking about how the City he lives in decided to make their fire engines Yellow. Something to do with that color was decided was more noticable. He went on to say how full of crap it was, because Cops say the number one ticketed color was RED.
I argued half heartedly that perhaps that was because there were more red cars than yellow, and thus their numbers were skewed. Perhaps there are more red cars than any other color and therefore it was by default more ticketed compared to all the other colors.
I don’t know though, anybody know of a good study or two on this online?
Red is simply a very popular color for “sporty” cars. When’s the last time you saw a dark blue or tan Porsche?
Yellow is becoming popular for fast cars too. What sets them apart from fire trucks is they’re being painted chrome yellow, as opposed to the more chartreuse color used on the fire trucks. The chartreuse color has been tested out and found to be one of the most easily seen and distinctive colors.
There is a legend that says that cops amuse themselves by playing ‘car snooker’: ticket a red car, get one point, followed by a black car, get seven points, then a red car for one point, then a pink car for six points, etc. Ticketing a white car is a four point penalty, and so on.
[hijack] Actually, just last night I saw a cream-colored ragtop Porsche. It was beautiful. [/hijack]
The effect of color on cops giving out tickets may be very different that color for visibility. Yellow (it seems slightly yellow/green to me) is very good for visibility in low light situations and stands out well after dark.
But when cops are ticketing cars they probably don’t have a problem with visibility. Perhaps red cars look like they are going faster? I think it more likely is that people who drive fast buy red cars.
Telemark’s observations are on point.
Years ago in an Industrial Psychology class I was told that yellow is the color which can be most readily noticed and identified at a distance. The weird “off” yellow used on some fire trucks is, I believe, referred to as “lime”, and is promoted for its supposed ability to be noticed readily.
The suggestion I have heard more than once is that red cars are (at least in urban legends) more prone to being ticketed because, as suggested, they “look fast”. The idea that many people who are prone to driving too fast are attracted to sporting-looking bright red cars may also be a factor.
A Google search using “lime” and “fire trucks” provides links to articles discussing studies which indicate that the yellow trucks are, in fact, more readily seen and therefore safer.
slipster is correct. Fire trucks are yellow or live to make them stand out. Red becomes dark red at night and not nearly as visible. Patrol cars are white, again for visibility, which with the addition of the equipment (gum ball machine) on top makes for HIGH visibility.
Our count sheriff’s’ deputies drive their cars home when off duty as they convey the message, "Hey bad guy we’re here close. don’t even try!