[derek234]

I have a 11 Polished Metal Metallic ex-res. Over the last 3 weeks I've almost been sideswiped twice and rear ended once. This has never really happened before. I got a little theory going that because the colour of my van is so close to the colour of the pavement I'm wondering if people who are not doing good shoulder checks are having a hard time seeing the van beside them and then switch lanes and almost collide with me.

Another time I was stopped on the road for a while waiting for traffic to pass so I could turn left. A car was coming up behind me quite fast. I got a little nervous so I started pressing the brake pedal fast and all of a sudden the nose of the car coming up behind me dropped hard as the person slammed on the brakes. hmmmm....Again I'm thinking the bland grey colour of the Polished metal metallic is not catching people's eyes at all.

 

[Gstom1]

Funny, I have a Polished Metal Metallic Odyssey and the same thing has happened to us a few times. The reason we didn't like white is because we thought it would be harder to see the van in winter conditions.

A few weeks ago, we were driving in the HOV lane. Some guy with his family in another minivan tried to make a lane change but didn't properly check his blind spot. He came within inches of hitting us and swerved back into his lane at the last minute. My wife didn't even have time to react and hit the van.

And just today, some guy in an SUV turing left out of a driveway almost hit us in our lane. Good thing my wife saw him and was able to cut over into the next lane.

My theroy is the bad drivers on the road today. You need defiensive driving at all times to avoid these idiots! Ontario drivers are turning into Quebec drivers . . .

 

[wktjr]

I think it's just lousy drivers.

 

[sdpnoy]

Interesting. Any discussion about other colors regarding this issue?

 

[blkody11]

^ I have a black odyssey and driving it at night seems worse. Most of the close calls I had were at night because of the night rider. I'm installing side markers this summer for added safety.

 

[mattchat]

I have the PMM Accord and I can say the same....love that colour though!!

 

[sdpnoy]

^ I have a black odyssey and driving it at night seems worse. Most of the close calls I had were at night because of the night rider. I'm installing side markers this summer for added safety.

Let me know how it turns out. We are planning to buy the new EX-L, but unfortunately, it does not come with the side markers. I asked the dealer could switch out the side mirrors with the turn signal built in from a touring, but the no luck. They said it will void the warranty.

 

[blkody11]

sdpnoy- Just to let you know that it involves cutting into the sides of the van with a rotory tool such as a dremel. Pretty scary for the beginner. I have them on three of my cars and to me it changes the look dramatically. Even if the JDM odyssey doesn't have it, I don't care. Its just added safety and looks. And I guess it will void the warranty as well. So I'll wait till the factory warranty ends.

 

[Happyvan]

People need to understand that an on-line forum like this is not where you get un-biased and statistically significant opinions and information. There is also the important issue of deciphering the difference between a cause-and-effect relationship and a mere "correlation."

 

[Happyvan]

If you do a search on line, you can find this from Wikipedia:

"Vehicle colour

A Swedish study found that pink cars are involved in the fewest and black cars are involved in the most crashes (Land transport NZ 2005). In Auckland New Zealand, a study found that there was a significantly lower rate of serious injury in silver cars; with higher rates in, brown, black, and green cars. The Vehicle Colour Study, conducted by Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) and published in 2007, analysed 855,258 accidents occurring between 1987 and 2004 in the Australian states of Victoria and Western Australia that resulted in injury or in a vehicle being towed away.[SUP][14][/SUP] The study analysed risk by light condition. It found that in daylight black cars were 12% more likely than white to be involved in an accident, followed by grey cars at 11%, silver cars at 10%, and red and blue cars at 7%, with no other colours found to be significantly more or less risky than white. At dawn or dusk the risk ratio for black cars jumped to 47% more likely than white, and that for silver cars to 15%. In the hours of darkness only red and silver cars were found to be significantly more risky than white, by 10% and 8% respectively. However, no study on the relation between car color and safety is scientifically conclusive. [SUP][15]"

[/SUP][SUP]Pay attention to the last sentence![/SUP]

 

[Gstom1]

A Swedish study found that pink cars are involved in the fewest and black cars are involved in the most crashes (Land transport NZ 2005).

Time to get my van painted pink . . .

 

[MichaelM]

I love my white ODY!!

 

[sdpnoy]

sdpnoy- Just to let you know that it involves cutting into the sides of the van with a rotory tool such as a dremel. Pretty scary for the beginner. I have them on three of my cars and to me it changes the look dramatically. Even if the JDM odyssey doesn't have it, I don't care. Its just added safety and looks. And I guess it will void the warranty as well. So I'll wait till the factory warranty ends.

Thanks for your input blkody11. I was thinking of incorporating one into the side mirror chassis. 12v modications is one of my favorite things to do. I just wired-in an internal wireless camera/monitor (backup camera) in side the car to watch the rear facing baby while we are at the wheel. Safety first =)