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.  

Comments

[Elemenope]

Watch out for people who have opinions and express themselves.

They tend to be assholes. Scientists say they are dangerous.

[New World Dan]

This is something that I expect will have some regional variations to it. In Virginia, for example, personalized plates are so popular one might think they were mandatory, and might not be as good of an indicator. In Minnesota, where I currently reside, we're not aggressive -- we're passive aggressive. Tail-gating me? I'm just going to take my foot off the gas and slow down to 40 mph until you get the picture. As for me, personally, I like my car to blend in and do nothing to decorate it.

[Your Good Buddy Johnny Clarke]

I believe it. For instance, I've noticed that loving Jesus doesn't seem to improve a person's driving.

[Nigel Watt]

Don't Mess With Texas is an anti-littering campaign, so I'm not sure how that's considered "angry and in your face".

[JW]

Their cause is just, their mandate is clear. Now get the fuck out of my way!

[BakedPenguin]

Could it also be that people who put this kind of crap on their car are younger than people who don't? (In general) I'd suspect that youth and aggressive driving are very positively correlated.

[Reinmoose]

Man I hate bumper stickers, except that they're a good indicator of who you should avoid on the road, and not for the reasons indicated in the article.

From the article: The key to the phenomenon apparently lies in the idea of territoriality. Drivers with road rage tend to think of public streets and highways as "my street" and "my lane" -- in other words, they think they "own the road."

You know who else thinks he owns the road? The guy who thinks they can just sit their ass in the middle of it at 7:30 in the morining and not move according to standardized driving practices that they allegedly had to prove knowledge of and capability of following in order to be allowed in the driver's seat in the first place.

[YMNGH]

Visualize Whirled Peas

[Episiarch]

Watch out for people who have opinions and express themselves

Expressing yourself via bumper sticker isn't exactly standing up in debate and arguing with Socrates. It's actually a one-person argument.

[Reinmoose]

Honestly, the author of the study is probably the world's worst driver. "Every time I drive 20mph under the speed limit and swerve all over the place and stop randomly these assholes behind me get all upset because they think they own the road! This is a public space, man!"

[SugarFree]

My other car is YOUR MOM!

[BakedPenguin]

Reinmoose - if you value your sanity, do NOT move to Central/Southern Florida.

[YMNGH]

WATCH OUT FOR CROSSWALKS!

MOVING CARS ARE EVERYWHERE.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

I've always kept these stickers off because the way I drive I'm only going to make more people mad at my various causes...

[JW]

So, who is worse: The assclown Prius driver with 14 different holier-than-thou scolding stickers or the whack-job pro-lifer, who both think "If i just put *one* more sticker on here, then everyone will come around to my way of thinking."?

Full disclosure: I have zero bumper stickers on both cars. Any idea that can be fully expressed in a 4" x 10" space, readable at 70 MPH, isn't worth considering.

[First Little Pig]

This is not surprising in the least.

Don't mess with Texas did start as an anti-littering campaign, but I suspect that 85+% of those who affix that sticker, wear the t-shirts and hats and otherwise use it in conversation are simply being macho and pro-texas. As in the SNL skit featuring Bush imitator: "Saddam made one mistake, he messed with Texas" -- that was not about litter.

[YMNGH]

"I've always kept these stickers off because the way I drive I'm only going to make more people mad at my various causes..."

Even people who are usually good drivers should consider this. People do not remember the times you drive perfectly - only the times you don't. Maybe you didn't get enough sleep last night. Maybe you had a nasty fight with your kid. There are times we all drive less than perfect and those are the times people will remmeber what your bumper sticker said.

[J sub D]

You'd think my DIE, YUPPIE SCUM! and WWJB?* stickers would tip folks off without this study.

*Who Would Jesus Bomb?

[Reinmoose]

Even people who are usually good drivers should consider this. People do not remember the times you drive perfectly - only the times you don't. Maybe you didn't get enough sleep last night. Maybe you had a nasty fight with your kid. There are times we all drive less than perfect and those are the times people will remmeber what your bumper sticker said.

Brilliant! I should start littering my car with bumper stickers that say "Universal Health Care is a family value" and "John McCain '08" - people would be so confused...

[Elemenope]

In Minnesota, where I currently reside, we're not aggressive -- we're passive aggressive. Tail-gating me? I'm just going to take my foot off the gas and slow down to 40 mph until you get the picture. As for me, personally, I like my car to blend in and do nothing to decorate it.

They do that here, too; I occasionally indulge. After all, there is nothing more satisfying than watching an asshole flail and honk behind you on a twisty one-lane road. Will he take the suicidal plunge and attempt to pass, or will he steam sullenly and ineffectually for the next ten miles? I take bets, sometimes.

On the subject of bumper-stickers, while my current vehicle has been kept fastidiously pristine, my old car was filled with them. Once I got pulled over by a cop simply for the purpose of him commenting (favorably!) on one of them. It was a singularly bizarre experience.

[Ironic]

J sub D, are you still in the Navy? How would people react if you drove your car on base with that sticker on it?

[shecky]

You mean that guy with the "This Car Protected By Smith & Wesson" or "Meat Is Murder" bumper sticker might be assholes? Who'da thunk?!?

I used to have a Darwin Fish on my car. Some jerk pried it off in a parking lot.

[Aresen]

Best bumpersticker ever:

HONK IF YOU LOVE FUCKING

[J sub D]

Which one? Actually I don't have stickers on my vehicle, but I spied both of those on Selfridge ANG base. Military folks have a sense of humor, otherwise they'd all be insane.

[Smappy]

Idea for a new bumpersticker:

MY WORLDVIEW WON'T FIT ON A BUMPER STICKER

I'd buy that one.

[JW]

Expressing yourself via bumper sticker isn't exactly standing up in debate and arguing with Socrates. It's actually a one-person argument.

There have been far too many times when I have been tempted to scrawl a retort on some stickers. The lack of a sharpie has generally killed that buzz. Probably better that way; I'd just get myself into trouble.

[Matt Moore]

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.

While using my horn to "express rage" is a favorite activity of mine I don't see how that can be considered aggressive.

[Libertarian Librarian]

"Brilliant! I should start littering my car with bumper stickers that say "Universal Health Care is a family value" and "John McCain '08" - people would be so confused..."

John McCain is such an odd bird I wouldn't be surprised if before November he came out in favour of socialized medicine. A lot of U.S. hospitals near the Canadian border would go out of business if that happened.

[R C Dean]

Tail-gating me? I'm just going to take my foot off the gas and slow down to 40 mph until you get the picture.

That's just good clean fun. The real test is whether, once they pass you, you start tailgating them

True story: I was driving on an empty stretch of 4-lane road in Northern Wisconin when I saw three cars coming up behind me, using both lanes. All three passed me going somewhere north of 85 miles an hour, in a tight bunch. After they passed me, one of them passed another, and the third one immediately pulled into the left lane to pass the other two.

All three had Illinois plates.

[R C Dean]

Lemme help a little:

A lot of U.S. hospitals near the Canadian border would go out of business if that happened.

[JW]

True story: I was driving on an empty stretch of 4-lane road in Northern Wisconin when I saw three cars coming up behind me, using both lanes. All three passed me going somewhere north of 85 miles an hour, in a tight bunch. After they passed me, one of them passed another, and the third one immediately pulled into the left lane to pass the other two.

I saw something similar years ago, coming back from the beach. About a half-hour later, I passed them on the shoulder, where they pulled over after plowing into one another. The cop dealing with them didn't look amused.

[LIbertarian Librarian]

R C Dean,

True. But especially near the Canadian border.

[Guy Montag]

Actually, I am complimented by my passengers on my proper following of the rules-of-the-road. Sometimes griped at for "driving like a grandma". Window stickers on the Jeep: "BSD", "W 04", "University of Tennessee Alumni", "T" and on the bumper "Folk You" and "i read your e-mail".

New World Dan,

Tail-gating me? I'm just going to take my foot off the gas and slow down to 40 mph until you get the picture.

I usually downshift without touching the brake 🙂

Perhaps for the 1972 'hybrid' Charger, with the "C8H18" license plate, I shall put "Organic Hydrocarbon Powered" on the bumper right below it and "Go Green" just below that.

I still think the true hybrid (Honda or Toyota, I don't remember) I saw in Suffolk, VA, with a "PEAK OIL" license plate, a Ron Paul sticker and a sticker about subdivisions are where trees are cut down and streets named for them, was the oddest combination I have seen.

[Guy Montag]

shecky,

You mean that guy with the "This Car Protected By Smith & Wesson" or "Meat Is Murder" bumper sticker might be assholes? Who'da thunk?!?

I am surprised that I have not seen them both on the same car at the same time anyplace.

[Aresen]

For tailgaters, I wait until there is a place where they can pass safely. Then I slow down until they do pass.

They can kill someone else.

OTOH, the only car I ever really wanted was the Green Hornet's car. The one with front and rear-mounted 25mm cannon. Bright light me? This'll put your lights out, asshole.

[YMNGH]

"I am surprised that I have not seen them both on the same car at the same time anyplace."

I have, when I was in the Air Foce. They owner was a vegetarian and an avid shooter. Not all gun owners are hunters.

[Mister DNA]

I'm still upset that the Lawrence v. Texas decision rendered my "You can take your sodomy laws and stick them up your ass" bumper sticker idea obsolete.

MY OTHER CAR IS PROTECTED BY MEAT

VISUALIZE WORLD UP YOUR ASS

[YMNGH]

"I'm still upset that the Lawrence v. Texas decision rendered my "You can take your sodomy laws and stick them up your ass" bumper sticker idea obsolete."

If McCain picks Huckabee as VP you should start printing some. They would sell.

[Er?k Boston, Juris Doctor]

Funny, I have two stickers which are rather militant - one is a military logo and the other is the "equality" sticker except that , instead of using the equal sign "=", I used the greater than sign ">". Also, I have a vanity plate that says "DVL ADVO"

Yet, somehow, I've gone over a quarter of a million miles without cause a fender scratch. Its amazing what you can do when install a good driver in your car.

[Guy Montag]

I still like the Star of David with "Gun Owner" written on it.

Who has that one? Saw it on here.

[Alan Vanneman]

If you read this article carefully--and that's a chore--you'll find no real evidence at all that drivers of cars with bumper stickers are more often found at fault in accidents than drivers of "clean cars." Shankar Vendantam leaps gracefully from one study to the next without ever providing any real data or proof that any of the studies 1) have any validity or 2) the slightest relationship with one another. This is a painful example of "too cute to check" psycho-babble.

[Guy Montag]

Did I mention the Jeep driving woman, a huskey lady she was, at a Knoxville, TN Starbucks during Memorial Day weekend?

She parked her red Jeep, Davidson Co. tags (Nashville) in the yellow stripes of a handycapped van space, right under the sign designating it for vans. Bumper stickers were the yelow equal sign and Hillary for President.

[Mister DNA]

She parked her red Jeep, Davidson Co. tags (Nashville) in the yellow stripes of a handycapped van space, right under the sign designating it for vans. Bumper stickers were the yelow equal sign and Hillary for President.

Even though the space was for vans, the Hillary for President sticker clearly indicates she was, indeed, handicapped.

[Chris Potter]

There's a DARE bumper sticker on the back of darn near every cop car I see. Make of that what you will.

Of course, the "as yet unpublished" experimental data hardly supports the conclusions he draws. Honking at someone who doesn't go when the light turns green is not "aggressive driving" by any stretch of the imagination. I actually appreciate it when the car behind me honks if I go into a daze and don't notice the light changing.

Also, what kind of rag is the Journal of Applied Social Psychology that it publishes research with not a shred of supporting data?

[Jennifer]

Has there ever been a documented incident of a bumper sticker actually changing anyone's mind? I'm still trying to find an ex-Klansman who embraced racial equality after seeing a "Coexist" sticker on the politically aware Volvo in front of him.

[Jamie Kelly]

As a person who has a bumper sticker that says, "What Would Jesus Do? Probably Kick Your Ass and Knock Back a Few Brewskis in Front of the Tube," I concur.
Don't fuck with me.

[BTS]

Best bumper sticker combination I ever saw: on one side of the car, a "WWJD" bumper sticker. In the rear window of the hatch: an OZZY window sticker.
Not to say that Jesus and Ozzy are mutually exclusive, but it's just a wee bit unexpected.

[Jamie Kelly]

There's a DARE bumper sticker on the back of darn near every cop car I see. Make of that what you will.

Chris: There's a great bumper sticker that looks just like a DARE bumper sticker, except it says: "D.A.R.E. -- to think for yourself."

[Elemenope]

Not to say that Jesus and Ozzy are mutually exclusive, but it's just a wee bit unexpected.

Contrary to the popular impression, Ozzy Osbourne has been a practicing Christian for many, many years.

Christianity: It's a BIG tent.

[Aresen]

Jennifer | June 16, 2008, 11:23am | #

Has there ever been a documented incident of a bumper sticker actually changing anyone's mind?

Well, everytime I see a "Jesus loves you" bumper sticker, my opinion of the driver changes from "He's another driver on the road." to "Oh, gawd! Another Jesus-freak!"

😉

[SugarFree]

Considering how many of DARE instructors are current or former cops, it just makes good business sense for them to advertise.

[Rimfax]

Aggressive driving might be responsible for up to two-thirds of all U.S. traffic accidents that involve injuries.

I love statements like this. How about "Aggressive driving might be responsible for global warming" or "Aggressive driving might be responsible for lolcats."

[YMNGH]

"Contrary to the popular impression, Ozzy Osbourne has been a practicing Christian for many, many years."

SO has Alice Cooper. Marylin Manson however, who learned a great deal from Alice Cooper is - to put it mildly - not a Christian.

[economist]

Although I don't particularly like bumper stickers, I kept the NRA sticker from the car I bought because it seems to help avoid robberies (My previous car was the subject of two robberies and one apparently attempted robbery). And I'm a member of the aforementioned organization.

[Reinmoose]

I agree that horns are not a sign of agressive driving. I use mine all the time, but I drive a golf, so it's largely used for 3 purposes "hello - I'm here - stop moving into my lane," "pay attention to what you're doing!," and "Yeah, impeach Bush!" or similar, when you see people on the side of the road with signs.

[Neu Mejican]

Any idea that can be fully expressed in a 4" x 10" space, readable at 70 MPH, isn't worth considering.

http://www.lpstuff.com/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=2

[economist]

An NRA friend of mine is also in the Sierra Club. I think that's more than a little weird.

[P Brooks]

This is a painful example of "too cute to check" psycho-babble.

What were you expecting?

Journalism? "Journal of Applied Social Psychology" indeed.

[Jamie Kelly]

Christianity: It's a BIG tent.

Makes it lots easier to set on fire.

[lunchstealer]

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.

So between these numbers and MADD's alcohol numbers, alcohol and aggressive driving combined account for approximately 4/3s of all injury accidents.

[brotherben]

I live next to Fort Rucker Alabama, the home of army aviation. I saw a pickup the other day with a soldier in it and a sticker on it that said "I jump out of airplanes and kill people."

My personal fave: "Jesus is coming, look busy"

[Guy Montag]

"Junk Science is reaponsible for 100% of Global Warming"

[Guy Montag]

responsible*

[Guy Montag]

"75% of all Statistics are made up"

[thoreau]

I remember going on a job interview where somebody was going to pick me up from the airport. He told me that he'd be driving a Prius. I looked at his picture on the web, and somehow got this vibe. At that point, I predicted that there would be lots of bumper stickers on his Prius.

I was right.

Nice guy, decent driver, but somehow he just had this vibe that there would be stickers on the Prius.

On a related note, I'm watching season 3 of Weeds on DVD, and a gangster just bought a bunch of Priuses because they make less noise, and he likes to be able to sneak up on somebody for a drive-by.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Makes it lots easier to set on fire.

Ooh, Jamie Kelly, you're so angry!

brotherben,
those are both very, very nice.

[K.T.]

i must be the exception to the rule... i have no such stickers, but when i see people with darwin fish stickers - like mr. bailey - i want to run them off the road.

[Arthur]

bumper sticker I saw last week:

"Annoy a liberal - Work, Succeed, Be Happy"

[mediageek]

Bumper stickers are tacky.

If you're going to slap art on your car, at least have the common decency to hire someone to paint flames or something on it.

[Er?k Boston, J.D.]

economist

Hunters are often conservationists so its not that odd.

[Guy Montag]

"Officer, please don't tease me with pain"

[Tbone]

True story: I was driving on an empty stretch of 4-lane road in Northern Wisconin when I saw three cars coming up behind me, using both lanes. All three passed me going somewhere north of 85 miles an hour, in a tight bunch. After they passed me, one of them passed another, and the third one immediately pulled into the left lane to pass the other two.

What? You've never heard of drafting? Besides, you said the highway was empty.

The proper term for those of us who head north on the weekend to prop up the otherwise lackluster cheesehead economy is FIBs.

The middle word is Illinois, you can figure out the rest.

[Elemenope]

"Annoy a liberal - Work, Succeed, Be Happy"

A good companion sticker: "Annoy a conservative - Smoke, Fuck, and Believe what you want"

Put them together, and you might melt some weak, brought-up-in-the-American-political-paradigm brains.

My personal favorite has always been:

"Don't blaspheme, don't curse, and for God's sake don't fuck your girlfriend!"

[economist]

The whole thing about jumping out of airplanes and killing people is undeniably true. It's just that the people he kills (presumably) deserve it.

[economist]

lunchstealer,
Not necessarily. There could be a third involving both aggressive driving and alcohol. Or MADD could be full of it. Or maybe both are full of it. Last one most likely.

[Guy Montag]

"MADD drives good people to drink"

[Guy Montag]

"Gun Control is a Tight Five Shot Group"

[Arthur]

Elomenope -

I might have to break my own "no bumper stickers on my car" rule if I could get my hands on both those stickers.

[Silvio Cutuli]

Well now, this has to warrant a strong response from those of us who have enough pride to personalize their cars but DO NOT consider some of these actions as aggressive. For example, in the last scenario where the researchers blocked the left turn lane at an intersection when the left turn light turned green, in the interest of alleviating a traffic-inducing backup, why would a friendly beep to wake up the dozing driver be considered aggressive? It seems to me that a lot of the instances depicted in the story should have elicited some sort of signal that the offending driver is being an idiot! This is partly why we have accidents and congestion. If people drove like the serious business it is instead of semiconsciously, there would definitely be a reduction in instances of these issues. Now on the converse side of the equation, does driving a totally non-personalized car mean that the driver would sit infinitely behind a car that won't move when the light turns green? I don't think so! Further, if not, then does any action taken - beeping or driving around the offending car - lump that driver into the "aggressive" category also? See what I mean? Taking common sense action can mark you as an aggressive driver! It's the definition of "aggressive" that needs to be spelled out, but it isn't because if it was, people would see the study for the sham it really is. While I don't adorn my car with bumper stickers, I do have a personalized plate, and I will take appropriate action to keep traffic moving. If this is viewed as aggressive driving, then those who view it that way should stay behind the car stopped at a green light and never take any action that would "offend" someone. As for me, I'll beep at two idiots instead of one and go around them both!

[brotherben]

I think someone should sell bumper stickers up jamie kelly's way on the rez that say, "Custer died for your sins." The injuns would buy all you could print.

[Art-P.O.G.]

My favorite bumpers sticker read: "Eschew Obfuscation"

[brotherben]

disclaimer: I stole that from Ken Kesey

[Guy Montag]

Silvio Cutuli,

One could use the Tony Stewart (NASCAR #20) method I saw in turn 1 of the Richmond track Sep. 2007:
Bump the pace car when the track goes back to green but he isn't moving yet.

[ZoomFast]

Guy Montag,

Now THAT'S appropriately aggressive driving. If the race is on, the pacecar needs to get out of the way.

[joe]

A car is an appliance. It's a dishwasher with a steering wheel.

It is not surprising that people who "personalize" them - bumper stickers and whatnot being only the outward expression of a psychological act - are going to be psychos, or take ordinary traffic problems as personal affronts.

[Elemenope]

A car is an appliance. It's a dishwasher with a steering wheel. It is not surprising that people who "personalize" them - bumper stickers and whatnot being only the outward expression of a psychological act - are going to be psychos, or take ordinary traffic problems as personal affronts.

I couldn't disagree more strongly. Personalizing one's possessions is an important psychological act that allows a person to feel comfortable and "at home" in a world filled with cold, inhuman "appliances". It is a subtle but constant implication that humans are in control of the ecology of machines, rather than the other way around.

[economist]

joe,
lighten up

[Guy Montag]

Elemenope,

Seems you are responding to someone who does not put stickers on their dishwasher and expects everybody else to be the same.

[Elemenope]

Seems you are responding to someone who does not put stickers on their dishwasher and expects everybody else to be the same.

I would double-down and say that it is precisely *because* it has a steering wheel it is more important to personalize it than the dishwasher at home. A car goes places other than one's own home into unfamiliar, perhaps hostile-seeming territory, and so personalization is a way of feeling at home "away from home" so to speak.

It is assumed that one's own house already resides in the mental "safe-space", unless of course, one is routinely abused at home. Then I suppose you're SOL.

[Elemenope]

Not that there's anything wrong with personalizing one's own dishwasher.

[joe]

Guy Montag

That's because they are psychos.

[economist]

By the way, that last post was actually by me. I figured I would summarize joe's response for him.

[JW]

take ordinary traffic problems as personal affronts

I dunno joe. When someone's incompetent or narcissistic driving habits put my life in immediate risk, I kinda take that personally.

[brotherben]

I put stickers on my dishwasher

and she got mad as hell.

thanks, I'll be here all weak

[Art-P.O.G.]

thanks, I'll be here all weak

You self-effacing young man, you.

[Jimmy]

It's "VISUALIZE WHIRLED PEAS"

[ed]

tend to be more aggressive than those who choose not to pithily share their political, environmental, and religious views with their fellow...

...bloggers.

[Mister DNA]

What kind of idiot puts stickers on their dishwasher? That's like putting magnets on a refrigerator.

Psychos.

[M2]

"yelow equal sign"

You mean the Human Rights Campaign?

[Guy Montag]

Painting racing stripes on the dishwasher can make her work twice as fast.

Adding them to a microwave could violate the known laws of physics, especially when making instant oatmeal.

[Guy Montag]

You mean the Human Rights Campaign?

If I knew what that insensitive woman's bumper sticker meant I guess I might have described it differently. Is that what the yellow = means?

BTW, does it still mean "Human Rights Campaign" if it is turned 90 degrees, like the pause button on a TV remote?

[Mark]

"My personal fave: "Jesus is coming, look busy""

Like the Tee-shirt that read, "Jesus is Coming. And Boy, is He Pissed!

[Guy Montag]

"Communism is the opiate of dumbasses"

[Ironic]

SATANISTS FOR CHRIST

[brotherben]

GM, I'll stick to my lortab, thanks.

[M2]

Is that what the yellow = means?

http://www.hrc.org/

PS I went to an HRC banquet about a dozen years ago and was given a key chain with their logo. I used it to hold a set of house key I gave to a friend to hold, should I ever lose mine.

I completely forgot about it until a few months ago when I was at his house. He has lots of kids and grandkids, so in his kitchen, he had put up a big board with hooks for keys.

I noticed the HRC keychain and asked, "Why on earth do you have a queer keychain?

He responded, "Do you know who those keys belong to?"

[Neil]

LIVE MUSIC ARE BETTER!

[libarbarian]

Don't mess with Texas did start as an anti-littering campaign, but I suspect that 85+% of those who affix that sticker, wear the t-shirts and hats and otherwise use it in conversation are simply being macho and pro-texas.

They're just scared that more people will catch on that Texans are generally the biggest f-ing sissified poontangs you will ever meet.

[libarbarian]

Also - It is RIGHT and PROPER to tailgate some people: specifically those who block the left lane by driving at the exact same speed as the guy directly beside them in the right land.

I agree with Silvio. Passive driving can be just as selfish and dangerous as aggressive driving. People who sit at green lights are usually the same ones who don't use their signal lights, don't check their mirrors, and otherwise don't pay proper attention to the road around them.

[economist]

Mister DNA,
I have a magnet attach to a bottle-opener on my refrigerator. Does that make me a psycho?

[First Little Pig]

STRANGERS HAVE THE BEST CANDY

If I was in the habit of putting stickers on my car, that would be the one I would choose.

or maybe:

IF ALL ELSE FAILS QUIT USING ALL ELSE

[Mister DNA]

Mister DNA,
I have a magnet attach to a bottle-opener on my refrigerator. Does that make me a psycho?

Most definitely. The only logical place for a magnetized bottle opener is the bumper of your car.

[Guy Montag]

"Socialists have nothing and are willing to share"

[Homer]

"Most definitely. The only logical place for a magnetized bottle opener is the bumper of your car."

No, the DASH of my 1960 pickup truck

[best bumper sticker ever]

I eat the flesh of the living
AND I VOTE!

[Chris Potter]

Back when I was but a lad, I saw a car with a "MEAN PEOPLE SUCK" bumper sticker that had been rearranged to say "SUCK MEAN PEOPLE".

My mom was hesitant to explain.

[atrevete]

"Passive driving can be just as selfish and dangerous as aggressive driving. People who sit at green lights are usually the same ones who don't use their signal lights, don't check their mirrors, and otherwise don't pay proper attention to the road around them."

Yup. But also think that going 15-20 miles under the speed limit means they are "safe drivers".

[atrevete]

OTOH, I see people with "Respect Life" license plates driving like bats out of hell all the time.

[brotherben]

Yup. But also think that going 15-20 miles under the speed limit means they are "safe drivers".

There was an article in The Idaho Statesman the other day about a man pulled over for doing 55 on the interstate where the limit is 75 and minimum is 45. He was then arrested for posession of a half pound of weed. Idaho law makes it illegal to impede trafic so as to cause a hazard. I wonder if they'll pull over the big trucks goin slow for fuel mileage purposes and write em up.

[brotherben]

A few years ago, I was passed, flipped off and cussed by a driver in town. I was doing a little over the speed limit but apparently not enough for them. A few minutes later, I came face to face with the same driver. As we shook hands. At church. I still smile over that one.

[Orange Line Special]

True story: I got cut off by a cadillac that had a DeadHeadSticker on it.

[Art-P.O.G.]

I've seen this one on my Army post: "Republicans for Voldemort".

[R C Dean]

They're just scared that more people will catch on that Texans are generally the biggest f-ing sissified poontangs you will ever meet.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

Probably something to it, if by "Texans" you mean "people who live in Dallas or Houston". Out here in San Angelo, not so much.

[Matthew]

I believe there is an inverse correlation between number of bumper stickers and I.Q.

Seriously, if you believe two or three words can adequately express a political issue, you're probably a moron.

And Seattle is chock full of Prius driving "Republicans Suck" "Visualize World Peace" idiots.

[joe]

I love it when n00bs like economist show up.

How many pwnings do you think it will take before he realizes that I'm not the liberal in his head?

[joe]

Elemenope,

I'd say that assuming the outside world is going to be "hostile territory," where one will need psychological ballast just to feel safe, is pretty psycho. It demonstrates precisely the self-absorbed, paranoid, war-of-all-against-all attitude that characterizes aggressive drivers.

I think you are right - covering your car with bumper stickers can be an act of "self-defense" for people who look at the rest of the drivers on the road as the enemy. You know - psychos.

[Art-P.O.G.]

joe,

I take it you're not a Mad Max fan?

Full Disclosure: I drive a Kia Rio that has no bumper stickers, spikes or lasers on it.

[joe]

Full Disclosure: I drive around eastern Massachusetts with the Red Sox B magnet on the right passenger side of Trusty the Wonder Civic.

Not exactly hostile territory, though.

[sometimes you eat the bear]

Best bumper sticker ever:
"The only thing worse than being alone is being around other people."

[James J. Bingus]

I usually reserve a healthy "oh no" when following anyone with a magnetic flag / support the troops magnet. These usually mean 15 -20 below speed limit.

Same for too many bumper stickers

[Stormy Dragon]

I wonder if anyone has studied the territoriality of scientists who think it's okay to deliberately block traffic because they want to do an experiment?

[SOFL Hockey Fan]

Best bumper sticker I ever saw was one that read "all those in favor of gun control, raise your right hand"
On the bumper sticker was a picture of Adolf Hitler giving the Nazi salute.

[economist]

"How many pwnings will it take before he realizes I'm not the liberal on this thread"
You're not? I guess it depends on how you define the word. If it's in the classical, 18th-19th century sense, then, no you're not. If its in the modern sense of the word, then you're bullshitting.
Please, explain how I'm a "n00b".

[Art-P.O.G.]

Damn, a Godwined bumper sticker!

[A Little Voice Inside Your Hea]

True story: I got cut off by a cadillac that had a DeadHeadSticker on it.

Don't look back. You can never look back.

[Stevo Darkly]

For newer people who haven't seen me post these before (and also in honor of Fathers Day), the following are bumper stickers proposed by my dad:

DEATH TO ALL MERCY KILLERS!

MY CHILD IS A TRUSTEE AT REFORM SCHOOL

HAS YOUR DOG HUGGED YOUR LEG TODAY?

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO TEASE AN IDIOT

[AW]

I personally have over 20 bumper stickers on the back of my van and I drive perfectly normally. I can't afford to waste gas. People that tailgate me in a 50 MPH construction zone when I'm doing 55-60 get a tap on the brakes and a slow-down to 50, though. 🙂

[Adina]

It's virtually impossible to ensure proper randomization, eliminate observer bias, and do proper regressional analysis for such a study. While it rings true, the study design is suspect at best.

[hi there]

why do black folks stop in the road and talk???????????

[Such_is_Life]

My bad driving is directly related to not getting any last night. So if you are pissed at my driving, consider my bumper sticker that says "Blow me" as an invitation for straightening me out... 🙂

[adam]

Bumper stickers just ruin the body's paint.

Now I get why all these idiots show up on Southern California freeways, they are brainless drivers from the Midwest coming out to California and wanting to play CHP on the freeway.

California general speed law, you must obey the speed limit, however you also must maintain with the flow of traffic, if you cannot maintain, you must move over to the right.

Number one lane is the "fast" lane. Try your slow down tricks here get ready for a great ticket!

Two weeks ago driving home on the 55, this genius withe plates from Wisconsin was going 60 mph in the "fast lane", not only was he failing to maintain the speed of traffic, he was making it impossible for anyone to change lanes safely. Anytime anyone was able to, he would flip them off for going around him, oh boy oh boy oh boy the look on that loser's face when the CHP lit him up, he did not want to pull over at first getting all mad, he got a nice $600 ticket.

Welcome to California! Check out the way things work out here, cause they are a bit different.

[David Rollins]

Best bumper sticker I ever saw was one that read "all those in favor of gun control, raise your right hand"
On the bumper sticker was a picture of Adolf Hitler giving the Nazi salute.
I have that one, but I haven't worked up the nerve yet to put it on my truck (need to get the gun rack installed first).

[Art-P.O.G.]

why do black folks stop in the road and talk???????????

Hey, white people do that, too. And it's because they didn't pay the phone bill.

[Guy Montag]

Bumper stickers just ruin the body's paint.

Vehicle sticker 101:

1. Try not to put stickers on painted surfaces. Window edges are great. Static-cling type stickers are awsome for this.

2. If you have those fancy new-style painted bumpers, 3M makes a great sticker and woodgrain remover that unglues stickers and does not harm the paint.

3. Clean area well after sticker removal.

[Rootman]

I saw a sticker that read "Honk if you love Jesus", I did, and was rewarded by the driver flipping me the bird!

[luralily]

I used to drive a big blue van. Easy to spot in a parking lot. When that died, I had to get a car. Do you know how many other little silver cars there are out there? I put the bumper stickers on just so I could find the dang thing.

[KenB]

WTFWJD

[Jerry]

Washington Post Sucks.

[Guy Montag]

luralily,

I put a roof mount spare tire holder on my white Jeep so I could find it. Prior to that I had actually put my key in the door of the wrong one more than once.

However, for now the spare tire is in the cargo compartment, so it is not as easy to spot in a lot or garage from a distance.

[Sean]

Remember, kids, correlation doesn't equal causation.

[Mad Scientist]

For the geologists among us:
Reunite Gondwanaland

[wizard of oz books]

With many new announcement about the wizard of oz movies in the news, you might want to consider starting to obtain Wizard of Oz book series either as collectible or investment at RareOzBooks.com.

[Boston Driver]

I have long noticed a correlation between cars having liberal, democrat, social-feel-good, greenie-weenie, and community-artsy stickers, and their drivers being SLOW ON THE UPTAKE (i.e, retarded, literally) when the light turns green.