You’ve likely heard the urban legend that red cars get pulled over the most because the flashy color stands out on the road more than other colors. But is it actually true? Discover if vehicles of a particular color do get pulled over more, or if it’s nothing more than a myth.
Which Color Gets Pulled Over Most Often?
The urban legend that red cars get pulled over more has persisted for years. You might even know a few friends who drive red cars and blame the color for their frequent speeding tickets. Is there any proof behind these stories, or are they just tall tales?
It turns out that there is a color that gets pulled over more than others, but it’s not red. The vehicle color that gets pulled over more than any other color is actually white. However, red does come in second place. Gray and silver round out the list, taking the third and fourth spots, respectively.
The false notion about police officers pulling over red cars most often comes from the idea that red is a more eye-catching color and easier for police to spot. However, this likely isn’t the case with white. In fact, it likely has more to do with statistics than the brightness of a color. For almost 10 consecutive years, white has been the most popular car color. Therefore, it makes sense that the color you see most often on the road is also the color that gets pulled over the most.
Do the Make and Model Matter?
While it’s fun to talk about some colors standing out and making it more likely for police to pull you over, there’s a more significant factor that increases your chances of being stopped: the make and model of your car.
One study found that the sporty Subaru WRX is one of the most ticketed cars on the road. The same study found that the Scion FR-S came in second, and the Volkswagen GTI came in third. When it comes to vehicles that get ticketed the least, the upscale Buick Encore crossover SUV sits on top of that list. The Lexus IS 350 sedan and Acura ILX sedan sit in spots two and three, respectively.
When you compare the vehicles that get the most tickets to the ones that get the fewest, you might think that the police are targeting a certain type of car. After all, the Subaru WRX, Scion FR-S, and Volkswagen GTI are all energetic vehicles with fast engines. However, it’s always important to remember that it’s the driver who gets the speeding ticket, not the vehicle.
Younger drivers who often push the speed limit tend to drive sportier cars. The three vehicles on the most-ticketed list are all marketed toward the younger generation. On the other hand, the cars that get ticketed the least are typically family-friendly sedans and SUVs that more experienced drivers tend to use.
Other Contributing Factors
When delving into the statistics on who gets pulled over most often, some factors might increase your chances. For example, in a study done in Minnesota, men received at least 50% more speeding tickets than women. Plus, it’s not just gender that can contribute to your chances of getting pulled over. Your age has something to do with it as well.
The same Minnesota study found that while drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 are only 13% of the state’s population, they received 33% of the speeding tickets. Once again, it’s not that police are picking out men and young drivers. It’s that men and young drivers tend to drive faster.
Police Look for Certain Behaviors
So, now you know that the color and type of vehicle you drive only play a small role in being pulled over. However, the biggest factor of all when it comes to whether or not the police stop you is how you drive.
When police monitor traffic, they’re not looking for specific colors or models to pull over. Instead, they’re looking for certain behaviors. All of the behaviors they look for have to do with aggressive driving and not following the rules of the road. By far, the most prominent infraction police officers look for is speeding, and it’s easy to understand why. The faster you go, the longer it takes for you to react to different situations on the road. Speeding is also a leading cause of car accidents. American Auto Insurance offers comprehensive physical damage coverage insurance policies as well. If you want to make sure you’re protected against aggressive, dangerous drivers, call us today to get a quote started.
Distracted driving is another major cause of accidents on the road, so it’s another typical behavior that police officers monitor. While distracted driving typically involves texting or talking on the phone, it can also include eating, looking at a map, or grooming.
Lastly, hazardous driving behaviors may also cause police to pull you over. These behaviors can include following another vehicle too closely, changing lanes improperly, making illegal U-turns, running a red light or stop sign, and failing to yield.
Getting SR-22 Insurance
While it’s mostly a myth that police target specific colors and models of vehicles, it’s certainly true that you must have insurance when you’re driving. If you’re considered a high-risk driver, you might be having a hard time finding insurance coverage, and American Auto Insurance is ready to help. At American Auto Insurance, we can assist you in following the laws by offering SR-22 insurance.
SR-22 insurance is a document that proves to the state that you have an auto insurance policy. If the state notifies you that you need SR-22, you can contact us for an insurance quote. Once you’ve secured an insurance policy, we’ll electronically file an SR-22 form with the state. After the state files and processes the form, you’ll have your driver’s license and vehicle registration reinstated, and it will be legal for you to drive again.
The best way to avoid being pulled over is to drive safely at all times. Contact American Auto Insurance today for cheap SR-22 insurance that will help you stay legal when you’re on the road.
