White Prius Visibility in Winter

ranmandx · 07-10-2007, 10:15 AM

Everyone talks how the White prius is the most visible in terms of safety. But i live in canada and have a chance at buying a super white prius however i've been told by everyone here what about winter. Anyone have an experience driving a white car in the middle of winter? This wasn't the first choice of color for me i originally wanted mag grey but a white package 6 has come available.

judymcfarland · 07-10-2007, 10:44 AM

Maybe a brightly colored flag on the antenna during a snowstorm wouldn't be a bad idea? On the other hand, if you have been living in Canadian winters and have never seen a white car, then you probably should worry. Talk about driving in stealth mode!

Michgal007 · 07-10-2007, 10:50 AM

May be red is better for Canadian winters. Nice color too.

qbee42 · 07-10-2007, 12:09 PM

It won't stay white for long. After a few days in the winter, it will look just like mag gray.

Tom

subarutoo · 07-12-2007, 03:28 PM

I bought my white one for MORE visibility, though it hardly ever snows in LA. I had my heart set on a blue or silver one, but seeing them (or not) on the road as darkness falls, I'm glad I got the white. Unless it snows all year long wherever you are, I wouldn't worry about it. The Canada cars require the DRLs, anyway. Get any color you like.

goalong · 07-12-2007, 05:14 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Jul 12 2007, 03:28 PM) [snapback]477648[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I bought my white one for MORE visibility, though it hardly ever snows in LA. I had my heart set on a blue or silver one, but seeing them (or not) on the road as darkness falls, I'm glad I got the white. Unless it snows all year long wherever you are, I wouldn't worry about it. The Canada cars require the DRLs, anyway. Get any color you like.
[/b]

Hi I'm new to the forum.
I think color makes absolutely no difference unless it is the hunter orange or green.
What does make a difference is your attention to your surroundings.

Leave room between you and the car ahead so you can pull away if the guy behind you isn't stopping.
Slow down at intersections and do not think for a second that because the other guy "looks" in your direction that he has seen you.

Here is anecdotal evidence why color of car doesn't matter:
I have a 60 buick 4 door. light green with a white roof. It is over 17 feet long. The white roof is probably close to the same size as your prius and I was nearly clobbered by a tractor trailer as he moved into my lane. Mid day, no inclemet weather and unlimited ceiling.

I could seem him in *his* mirror. Why he could not see me is a mystery. Fortunately I had plenty of get-up-an-go to get out from next to him. I needed to use the shoulder and stopping wasn't an option due to traffic.

How anyone can miss a 17 foot long ugly old giant mass of green and white steel is beyond me.

Rae Vynn · 07-12-2007, 05:18 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(goalong @ Jul 12 2007, 02:14 PM) [snapback]477722[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Here is anecdotal evidence why color of car doesn't matter:
I have a 60 buick 4 door. light green with a white roof. It is over 17 feet long. The white roof is probably close to the same size as your prius and I was nearly clobbered by a tractor trailer as he moved into my lane. Mid day, no inclemet weather and unlimited ceiling.

I could seem him in *his* mirror. Why he could not see me is a mystery. Fortunately I had plenty of get-up-an-go to get out from next to him. I needed to use the shoulder and stopping wasn't an option due to traffic.

How anyone can miss a 17 foot long ugly old giant mass of green and white steel is beyond me.
[/b]

I had the exact same thing happen to me, when I was driving my Malibu, with the headlights on.
The semi got halfway past me, then merged into my lane. Forced me off the highway.

Broad daylight, me with headlights on, in a car that wasn't actually 'little'...

Drive aware.

priussoris · 07-12-2007, 05:49 PM

We have had White vehicles ever since moving to phx. AZ , We brought the Pearl White jeep back with us to MO. and last winter with all the snow we had I would rather had a black,blue, green, red, or any color but WHITE.
If I were you go with a COLOR, Plus you can find your car better in a parking lot especially in a snow storm

we went with the Barcelona Red Metalic very nice color

goalong · 07-12-2007, 06:51 PM

actually this might help you even more than the color of the car.
http://www.streetglo.net/reflective.tape/
the tapes come in various colors that can blend with your paint and not look like reflective tape untill it reflects. You could scare them off the road when your car lights up like a ufo when their lights hit it.

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07-10-2007, 10:15 AM	#1
ranmandx Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 54 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Everyone talks how the White prius is the most visible in terms of safety. But i live in canada and have a chance at buying a super white prius however i've been told by everyone here what about winter. Anyone have an experience driving a white car in the middle of winter? This wasn't the first choice of color for me i originally wanted mag grey but a white package 6 has come available.

07-10-2007, 10:44 AM	#2
judymcfarland Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, WI Posts: 292 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Maybe a brightly colored flag on the antenna during a snowstorm wouldn't be a bad idea? On the other hand, if you have been living in Canadian winters and have never seen a white car, then you probably should worry. Talk about driving in stealth mode!

07-10-2007, 10:50 AM	#3
Michgal007 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan. Posts: 800 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	May be red is better for Canadian winters. Nice color too.

07-10-2007, 12:09 PM	#4
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 4,791 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	It won't stay white for long. After a few days in the winter, it will look just like mag gray. Tom

07-12-2007, 03:28 PM	#5
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 988 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I bought my white one for MORE visibility, though it hardly ever snows in LA. I had my heart set on a blue or silver one, but seeing them (or not) on the road as darkness falls, I'm glad I got the white. Unless it snows all year long wherever you are, I wouldn't worry about it. The Canada cars require the DRLs, anyway. Get any color you like.

07-12-2007, 05:49 PM	#8
priussoris Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,005 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	We have had White vehicles ever since moving to phx. AZ , We brought the Pearl White jeep back with us to MO. and last winter with all the snow we had I would rather had a black,blue, green, red, or any color but WHITE. If I were you go with a COLOR, Plus you can find your car better in a parking lot especially in a snow storm we went with the Barcelona Red Metalic very nice color

07-12-2007, 06:51 PM	#9
goalong Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	actually this might help you even more than the color of the car. http://www.streetglo.net/reflective.tape/ the tapes come in various colors that can blend with your paint and not look like reflective tape untill it reflects. You could scare them off the road when your car lights up like a ufo when their lights hit it.