Whether you're rocketing down I-49 from Shreveport to Alexandria or trying to make it to a casino show in Lake Charles from Lafayette in under an hour as a driver in Louisiana you know there are ample opportunities for you to travel above the posted speed limit. No, we won't ever suggest you do that but, if you do does the color of the car you drive have anything to do with the likelihood that you'll be noticed by local law enforcement or State Troopers?

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For years you've probably been made aware of the propensity for cars with flashy colors such as yellow or red to be frequent targets of clandestine speed monitoring by law enforcement along Louisiana's motorways. You may have been informed that drivers who choose vehicles adorned in flashy and exotic colors or paint jobs often pay higher insurance premiums because of that. Well, let me be the first to tell you, that you've been "misinformed".

The Insurance Information Institute can confirm that the "red car/pay more" for insurance" myth is busted. The fact is. The color of a vehicle's paint job will do nothing to affect the premiums you pay for your car insurance. It actually comes down to your driving record. But that driving record can certainly be affected by moving violations, such as speeding tickets, right?

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Do Drivers of Red Cars in Louisiana Get Pulled Over More Often for Speeding?

According to the National Motorists Association Blog, the answer to that query is simply, no. Despite what you were told in your youth or what you may have "heard" or "read" online, the fact is this. Red cars are not the most often pulled-over cars where speeding is concerned in Louisiana.

What Color Cars Get the Most Speeding Tickets in Louisiana?

The answer is based more on math than on actual driving habits. The winner in this dubious category is the white car. The reason? There are a lot more white-colored vehicles on the road than any other color vehicle. We should note that red vehicles were the second most often pulled-over followed by gray and silver.

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In Louisiana, Does the Make and Model of a Car Make You More Likely to be Pulled Over?

Again, we'll refer to the National Motorist Association Blog for the data, they're reporting that the most ticketed cars according to their research were the Mercedes-Benz SL class, the Toyota Camry Solar, and the Scion tC. That's quite a variation in "flashy" isn't it?  However, the researchers found that it was less about the car and more about the likely driver of this kind of car.

All of the aforementioned models are popular with drivers under the age of 30. That's the same driving demo that's most likely to be ticketed for speeding no matter what kind of vehicle they drive. That's why car insurance for younger drivers is considerably higher than for drivers who have reached a certain age.

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Jonathon Cooper via Unsplash.com
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So, if you're in the market for a new vehicle and you are shying away from a bright color or sporty design, don't let that deter you. Just know that police and insurance actuaries are not as concerned about the color, the make, and the model of your vehicle as they are concerned about "the nut connected to the steering wheel". That's you, by the way.

South Louisiana's Most Infamous Speed Traps

Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells