I’m a big fan of reading the results of random studies. These are things nobody should spend time on, but end up answering some of life’s great questions.

Possessing a somewhat random mind at times—especially while driving—I sometimes ponder issues we really don’t need answers to. Today’s desire for statistical analysis involves car accidents.

Today while I was driving home from work I passed an intersection with a car exactly like mine—same model, year and color. That got me thinking about how often the exact same cars end up in a crash. Like you’d call the insurance company and really exasperate the agent when they asked for the details on your car, and then the other car.

“Mine’s a 2005 silver Toyota Camry.”
“Ok, great. And the other driver’s?”
“Yeah he was driving a 2005 silver Toyota Camry.”
“No, I got yours, what was the other guy driving?”
“A 2005 silver Toyota Camry.”
“Yes. I know that’s what you drive. I see it on my computer. I heard you say it. I wrote it down. What. Type. Of. Car. Was. The. Other. Guy. In. When. He. Slammed. Into. Your. 2005. Toyota. Camry?”
“A 2005 silver Toyota Camry.”
“What is the name of the guy playing first base?”
“Who.”
“The guy playing first!!!!”

It seems logical that it would happen most often with the best-selling cars in any particular area. But it would be a fascinating study to examine. Maybe the drivers of that best-selling car are a safer group than the general population, and those cars rarely hit each other. Maybe there’s a certain color that perks up the drivers, making them less likely their brethren.

I bet thousands of researchers have started this study, only to have the auto lobby shut them down for fear of branding a certain car incredibly likely to attack its own.

If not, someone should really put in the effort, and that someone should definitely not be me. Just be sure so send me the results. Please.