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According to a new study, drivers with bumper stickers on their cars are more prone to aggressive driving, including angry horn-honking, tailgating, and general bird-flipping road rage.
This tendency isn’t just bumper-sticker specific. It was found that any driver with “territorial markers” including personalized license plates, decals and the like is prone to this behavior. Experts speculate that those who sport these types of markers tend to see the road as “theirs,” therefore “Grandpa” and “Buddy” behind the wheel are encroaching on their lane, their street, their space. Road rage is a serious concern, considering it is potentially responsible for two-thirds of all injury-causing accidents in this country.
And don’t think this only applies to cars with Confederate flag stickers. Apparently the same predisposition applies to those with peaceful messages on their bumpers, so watch out for those angry hippies too. [Trib]
Photo by ChicagoEye.
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I thought it was interesting that when I moved here, one of the first things I noticed was the preponderance of vanity plates in Chicago.
I spent a lot of time on 290 and that was one of the things that kept my mind off the traffic congestion..just counting the sheer number of these things that I'd see on any given day. It blew me away!
Not so long ago I read an article about vanity plates and Illinois was like number one or two in the states with the highest number of vanity plates.
So, I guess that leaves one to believe that you all are some pretty, pretty territorial people!!
And along the same lines, something else that I've noticed...and this is completely my unscientific judgement here, but those soccer mom types driving hunter green mini vans...they are the WORST!! Just stay away from the suburban mom in a hunter green mini van!!
Michael Ian Black does a hilarious bit on bumper stickers and the a-holes who display them, from the lame 'don't blame me' ones to the twats who display a sticker of their college.
I admit it. Those "Coexist" bumper stickers make me angry. Is anyone going to be more welcoming to those of other religions because a bumper sticker told them to? The only thing worse is a "Wall Drug" bumper sticker. All that says is that someone in the car was willing to drive out to the middle of nowhere to go shopping and then advertise this stupidity to the world.
It's a good thing I don't drive...
shit happens
I have a vanity plate. In Illinois, there is no extra charge as long as you include some numbers, so maybe that explains all of them?
That said, mine is due to a weak/dumb moment at the dealership when I bought a new car. Didn't know I had to register for license plates at the same time and I didn't think it through.
Does it count if the ONE window decal on my car isn't mine?
I can imagine having a bumper sticker that advertises a favorite band, but that's about it. Vanity plates that advertise the driver's occupation are kind of funny. It's amusing to find a dentist or electrician who's so satisfied in their chosen profession.
Maybe road rage instigators are folks living in such an idealized world that they freak out when reality crashes in. Perhaps bumper stickers are a way of projecting how they think the world is supposed to work.
Yes, soccer moms in SUVs are just horrible. Despite the staid haircuts, sensible wardrobe and tasteful shoes, these women are as aggressive, malicious and cut-throat as they come.
P.S. There's a red-and-beige truck parked behind Shabbona Park, on Cornelia just east of Harlem. This truck is covered with the most outrageous right-wing bumper stickers you'll ever see. I wouldn't stand too close when reading though, as it's obvious the owner carries guns.
Have we forgot the completely obnoxious "My Child Is An Honor Student At (fill in the blank) School".
I have a friend who has a couple of kids who always got straight A's...but they both forbad her from displaying the bumper sticker.
Cool kids.
I put a bumper sticker on my car once in a weak moment of hubris...but I got rear ended and there was lots of damage and the bumper had to be replaced. I had at one point, tried to remove it but it was stuck on there!!! So...no more bumper stickers. Whew!!
Getting rear ended was a good thing.
Keep your eyes peeled for the Michigan vanity plate that reads " MADADAM ".
I see that plate everywhere and the dude is a total douchebag. I guess that study hit the nail on the head.
For a far better analysis on this see-
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/05/21/100-bumper-stickers/
I have a Wall Drug sticker. I like it. Wall Drug is about more than shopping. Wall Drug is an experience.
Bumper stickers are generally inspired by the same vapid, knee-jerk inanity you find in most online comments sections:
http://www.balloongoesbang.com/2009/07/so-you-want-to-change-world.html