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You might have heard the urban legend that red-colored cars get pulled over because their flashy colors stand out on the road more than any other color vehicles for years. You might even know a few friends and acquaintances who drive cars in the color red and blame its color for their frequent speeding tickets. But is it true? Is there any proof behind these stories? Or are they just mere myths over the years?

Take a look at your car and how you drive. Ask yourself: Does your car seem like the type of vehicle that is easily pulled over? Is the car type a sports car or an SUV? Is the color striking enough to get easily pulled over? You would have thought that the aforementioned questions necessarily matter when it comes to getting pulled over. Color is just one factor, other factors might surprise you.

In this article, you will find out if a particular car color is most likely pulled over more in Fredericksburg, VA, or if it is nothing more than just a myth.

 

Car colors that cause police to pull their drivers over

 

Does having a flashy and popular car color mean you’ll get pulled over more and get traffic tickets? Empirical studies show that things are a bit different than you have expected. Colors that cause police to pull their drivers out are usually red, white, silver, and gray colors as these colors are dominant and striking on the road. However, are red colors pulled over more than any other colors?

 

Are red cars pulled over more?

 

You might be surprised that red is not the vehicle color that usually gets pulled over by any other colors. The car color that gets pulled over more than any other color is white vehicles. However, red-colored vehicles come next after white; as they are a more eye-catching color. Taking the third and fourth spots respectively, are gray and silver-colored vehicles. The other colors are regarded as safe car colors when it comes to getting pulled over.

The false proposition regarding police officers pulling over red cars comes from the idea that red-colored vehicles are more striking, more eye-catching, and easier to spot as compared to the other colors. However, this likely isn’t the case with white-colored vehicles. It is more likely to do with statistics than solely how bright the color of the vehicle is.

For almost a decade, white has been the most popular color. With this, it makes sense that white-colored vehicles, a color you see most often on the road, are also the color that gets pulled over the most.

It seems like flashy-colored cars like white and red do not get pulled over as often as we think. But what about the model and make?

 

The color of the car that gets pulled over the least is?

 

On the other side of the spectrum, there is no specific color of the car that gets pulled over the least. It all boils down to your driving behavior rather than the car color. It is imperative to remember that your chances of being pulled over are far more dependent on your ability and behavior while driving than any other factors. Drivers that possess heavy feet or are of young age, speedy drivers are most likely to be pulled over regardless of what car color they drive.

 

Is it important what model and make the car is?

 

While some flashy-colored cars stand out from the rest and make it more likely for police to pull you over, there is a more significant factor that increases your chances that your car is pulled over: the model and make of your car.

In a study, the sporty Subaru WRX is one of the most ticketed cars and most pulled-over cars on the road. The same study also shows that the Scion FR-S came in second, and the Volkswagen GTI in third place in the ranks of cars that are most pulled over. On the other side of the spectrum, the upscale Buick Encore crossover SUV comes in the number one slot on the list when it comes to cars that get ticketed the least, followed by the Lexus IS 350 sedan and Acura ILX sedan that came in spots number two and three, respectively.

In terms of vehicles that get the most tickets, you might think that police officers are keeping an eye on a particular type of car. The Subaru WRX, Scion FR-S, and Volkswagen GTI have fast engines; hence they are all energetic vehicles. However, it is noteworthy that it is you as the driver who gets the speeding ticket, and not the vehicle.

Interestingly enough, the top cars that are usually purchased were more sporty models, such as coupes and cars that are often designed for the younger generations. On the other hand, the lower cars appeared to be more sedans, SUVs, or any other family-friendly vehicles. In addition, minivans are least likely to get pulled over.

Usually, young drivers push the speed limit and they tend to drive sportier cars. The three vehicles that have fast engines aforementioned and are on the most-ticketed list are all marketed to the younger generation. On the other hand, the vehicles that get ticketed the least are typically those that are family-friendly sedans and SUVs that more experienced drivers tend to use.

 

Other factors to consider

 

When delving into the statistics on what car usually gets pulled over, some other underlying factors might increase your chances.

 

Gender

 

One other contributing factor that your car will most likely pull over has something to do with your gender. For example, in a Minnesota study, men received at least 50% more speeding tickets than the other sex.

 

Age

 

It is not just gender that can contribute to your chances of getting pulled over, but also your age has something to do with the contributing factor, as well. The same Minnesota study found out that while drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 are only 13% of the entire population of the state, the same age bracket received a whopping 33% of the speeding tickets. It is noteworthy to reiterate that it is not those police officers who are picking out men and young drivers. It is the other way around; it is men and young drivers who tend to drive faster; hence, their cars are being pulled over.

 

Drivers’ Behavior

 

Police officers usually are not looking for specific colors or models to pull over when they monitor traffic but they are looking for certain behaviors. Behaviors like aggressive driving and not following the rules of the road are most likely to be pulled over. As of this writing, the most prominent factor that police officers look for when monitoring traffic has something to do with the speed of the car, and it is self-explanatory. The faster you drive, the longer it takes for you to react to different situations in the middle of the road while driving. Moreover, speeding is also the top cause of having car accidents.

Moreover, being distracted while driving is another significant cause of an auto accident on the road; hence, it is another typical behavior that police officers monitor on the road. While distracted driving usually involves talking or texting on the phone, it can also include eating, looking at a map, or grooming.

Bad driving behavior like hazardous driving may also cause police officers to pull you over. These behaviors can include changing in the improper lane, not following road signs, following another vehicle too closely, running when the traffic stops or in red, making illegal U-turns, and failing to yield, and other traffic violations are most likely to be pulled over.

 

Conclusion

 

Now you know that the color and type of car you drive only play a small role in being pulled over. It is noteworthy to emphasize that how you drive in the first place accommodates the biggest factor of all when it comes to whether or not the police stop you or your car will be pulled over. These distracting acts aforementioned should be avoided not only for your car not to be pulled over but also to get rid of car accidents first and foremost. It is imperative to practice safe driving habits.