The Influence of Vehicle Color on Speed Perception in Nighttime Driving Conditions

Nenad Marković, Aleksandar Trifunović (), Tijana Ivanišević and Sreten Simović
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Nenad Marković: Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Aleksandar Trifunović: Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Tijana Ivanišević: Department in Kragujevac, Academy of Professional Studies Sumadija, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Sreten Simović: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Vehicle color coatings have long been recognized as a factor influencing road safety, particularly regarding their impact on speed perception and crash risk. This study aims to examine how different vehicle color coatings affect drivers’ perception of speed under nighttime driving conditions, with a specific focus on sustainability and visibility. A controlled laboratory experiment was conducted using a driving simulator to replicate realistic night traffic scenarios. A total of 161 participants evaluated passenger vehicles in four distinct color treatments, white (high-reflective paint), yellow (matte safety film), blue (glossy metallic finish), and black (low-reflective coating), at two speeds: 30 km/h and 50 km/h. Participants’ perceived speeds were collected and analyzed using standardized statistical methods. Results indicated a consistent pattern: speed was overestimated at 30 km/h and underestimated at 50 km/h across all vehicle colors. Lighter-colored vehicles (white and yellow) were perceived as moving faster than darker-colored vehicles (blue and black), with significant differences between black and yellow (30 km/h), yellow and blue (30 km/h), and black and white (50 km/h). Additionally, female participants tended to estimate higher speeds than male participants across most conditions. Other individual factors, such as place of residence, driver’s license type, driving experience, and frequency of driving, also showed measurable effects on speed perception. By using a simulator and accounting for diverse demographic characteristics, the study highlights how perceptual biases related to vehicle color can influence driver behavior. These findings emphasize the importance of considering vehicle color in traffic safety strategies, including driver education, vehicle design, and policy development aimed at reducing crash risk.

Keywords: vehicle color coatings; speed perception; sustainable research; reflective finishes; driving behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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