Watch Out for Cars With "Visualize World Peace" Bumper Stickers

Washington Post Department of Human Behavior correspondent Shankar Vendantam reports drivers who decorate their cars with bumper stickers tend to be more aggressive than those who choose not to pithily share their political, environmental, and religious views with their fellow motorists. According to Vendantam, the researchers caution:

Watch out for cars with bumper stickers.

That's the surprising conclusion of a recent study by Colorado State University social psychologist William Szlemko. Drivers of cars with bumper stickers, window decals, personalized license plates and other "territorial markers" not only get mad when someone cuts in their lane or is slow to respond to a changed traffic light, but they are far more likely than those who do not personalize their cars to use their vehicles to express rage—by honking, tailgating and other aggressive behavior.

It does not seem to matter whether the messages on the stickers are about peace and love—"Visualize World Peace," "My Kid Is an Honor Student"—or angry and in your face—"Don't Mess With Texas," "My Kid Beat Up Your Honor Student."

Hey, you clown! This ain't funny! Aggressive driving might be responsible for up to two-thirds of all U.S. traffic accidents that involve injuries.

A word to the wise–I'm driving up to DC today and I have a Darwin fish on my bumper. So stay out of my way, bub! 

Whole Post article here.