Bumper stickers, road rage linked
Car decals suggest aggressive driver, CSU study finds
By Brittany Anas, Daily Camera
Monday, July 7, 2008
Bumper stickers may indicate the potential for bumper cars, according to a new academic study that links the decals to road rage.
The Colorado State University study, published in a June edition of the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, scientifically draws the conclusion that drivers who decorate their cars with "territorial markers" - such as bumper stickers, personalized license plates or window decals - are more likely to be aggressive on the road.
For the study, a researcher sat in a car in a turn lane after the traffic light turned green, holding up traffic. On average, vehicles with "territorial markers" honked seconds faster than drivers in plain cars.
The theory includes even those drivers with stickers preaching peace and love, according to William Szlemko, an author of the study and a doctoral student.
"I'd like to see a study breakdown of right-wing and left-wing stickers," said John Fischer, owner of StickerGiant.com, an online retailer based in Hygiene. He said he's never seen a driver with a "Namaste" or "Baby on Board" bumper sticker cutting off other cars or blowing the horn.
Sarah Huntley, spokeswoman for the Boulder Police Department, said traffic officers have not made any connections between bumper stickers and road-rage incidents.
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July 7, 2008
4:55 a.m.
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DeskJockey writes:
So according to this study, honking a car horn is road rage?
July 7, 2008
6:15 a.m.
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RegusPatoff writes:
DeskJockey... you got that right. In fact, flashing your lights at someone is considered road rage in some places. It used to be a courtesy to let the car in front of you know that you are about to pass, or that they had room to move over. Ain't it great!?
July 7, 2008
6:49 a.m.
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freethinker07 writes:
The researcher was deliberately holding up traffic. A traffic offense. Aren't there ethical guidelines for journal articles?
Some window stickers are mandated by employment or residences. This study is very questionable.
July 7, 2008
7:14 a.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
I'm starting top become enraged while driving in heavy traffic & noticing that half the people around me are talking cell phones! Idiots! Having seen some of the same people for years as I've made the same commute for some time these same people weren't that courteous previously. They need all their faculties focused on driving if the rest of us presume to be safe!
July 7, 2008
7:27 a.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
Someone got paid for a BS research grant for this???
THAT REALLY PISSES ME OFF!!! lol :)
July 7, 2008
7:39 a.m.
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PMSXpress writes:
Just what is a "territorial marker?" Not sure what the definition of that is...
July 7, 2008
8:15 a.m.
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vudumom writes:
I am a very patient and courteous driver. The only thing that makes me angry and impatient is a car driving 15-20 miles below the speed limit. That's when I usually look at the license plate. Most of the time in is a handicapped tag. What's up with that?
July 7, 2008
8:22 a.m.
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rpmcmurphy writes:
The cars with more decals (bumper stickers) than any other car on the road are police cars. What does this say? lol
July 7, 2008
8:36 a.m.
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Tom writes:
"Ever notice that people who drive slower than you are idiots, and people who drive faster than you are maniacs?" -- George Carlin
July 7, 2008
8:55 a.m.
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DenverDan writes:
I get mad when I still see Bush stickers!
July 7, 2008
9:13 a.m.
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Big_D writes:
SASQUATCH,
Man it's early and your bull is already flying. Do you ever stop for a second and think before you write? I'm sure Timothy McVeigh and the Unabomber were big time GOP so do you mean drug offenders because a lot of the violent felons have right wing leanings. I guess I shouldn't try to reason with you, you are only a tick away from crazy anyway.
July 7, 2008
9:30 a.m.
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cterryr2 writes:
This is so stupid! A totally flawed study. A waste of time and thought. What about all the supped up cars without bumper stickers?
What about all the rich people who drive as they wish not caring about fines?
What about the local Priest with a Jesus sticker who never speeds?
Etc, etc, etc.
July 7, 2008
9:59 a.m.
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PMSXpress writes:
Squatch, take a breath man. Calm down.
July 7, 2008
10:05 a.m.
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M2 writes:
Why is it that so many people in Colorado like to express their opinions/values on bumper stickers?
I don't give a rats @$$ what you think or believe in. Just drive or get out of my way.
July 7, 2008
10:09 a.m.
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Dinty writes:
About bumper stickers. Is it just my imagination, or do most Subaru Outbacks and Toyota Prius' come straight from the factory with Obama 08 bumper stickers? I guess that says something about those drivers.
July 7, 2008
10:10 a.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Suggestions for front bumper stickers:
yaw ym fo ssa wols ruoy teg
sniarb rof tihs , revo evom
?ciffart tcurtsbo uoy od yhw neht sretagliat etah uoy fi
uoy ssik ot ekil dluow I ,yenoh sey
July 7, 2008
10:13 a.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
Great! get ready for bumper sticker restrictions. If they think bumper stickers are corrolated with dangerous driving, not even the 1st am. right of freedom of speech can save this right.
July 7, 2008
10:44 a.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
"What about all the rich people who drive as they wish not caring about fines?"
Confessions of an Angry Socialist!
July 7, 2008
10:49 a.m.
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JimmyTheSaint writes:
Can't wait until middle school starts back up so we don't have to read Sasquatch's mindless rants any longer. At least during school hours.
July 7, 2008
10:51 a.m.
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wow writes:
This story reads so much like something out of "The Oninon", I had to read it twice to be sure it was it real. Now, I feel twice as stupid.
July 7, 2008
11:05 a.m.
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TVPro2r writes:
Sasquatch is gonna kill me for this, but I am a mod-conservative republican who thinks the WORST drivers (with stickers) are my fellow Bush voters. If you're gonna drive like a jerk, at least take off the Bush stickers as not to embarrass the rest of us. Conversely, the punk-commie-code-pinko "Save Tibet" (but screw Iraq) Subaru crowd knows how to use turn signals. (Messssed up world!) Anyone else notice this??? Lemme know.
July 7, 2008
11:10 a.m.
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jay writes:
i will say that every time i see a W sticker on a car i give that person a wide berth. if you're dumb enough to have voted for the monkey king you probably shouldn't be operating heavy machinery.
July 7, 2008
11:17 a.m.
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seeingeyeseesall writes:
Nothing new here ... police have been "trained" for the past few years in the psychology of bumperstickers and those who "fly" them. These days you're more likely to be "suspect" if you display your opinions - no matter what they are - on your bumper. Who's paid for this research? You, through your Dept. of homeland Security.
July 7, 2008
11:22 a.m.
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Shaggy writes:
I happen to like driving around with my Bush/Cheney sticker on and laugh at the hate filled loons who try and cut me off with their little Passat's with peace and Rainbow symbols on.
Amazing how they preach love yet are so filled with hate.
July 7, 2008
11:31 a.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
"Who's paid for this research? You, through your Dept. of homeland Security."
You got ANYTHING to back this statement up? Or you just another angry person who hates to wait in lines at the airport?
I still enjoy laughing at those who still have a Gore or Kerry sticker on their cars.
July 7, 2008
11:53 a.m.
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hakj writes:
Holier:
ROFLOL
July 7, 2008
12:05 p.m.
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Dude writes:
time to take off my "Honk if your Horny" sticker.
July 7, 2008
12:09 p.m.
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davies writes:
I've been watching for a good GWB bumper sticker, but I can't find the one I want. It has to say: "George W Bush, Greatest President Ever", and then underneath in finer print: "not a chickensh1t Democrat terrorist hugger".
July 7, 2008
12:16 p.m.
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RickyLee writes:
Seriously, this "study" shows a lot of evidence about the CAUSE of "road rage", yet the
'....The Colorado State University study, published in a June edition of the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, scientifically draws the conclusion that drivers who decorate their cars with "territorial markers" - such as bumper stickers, personalized license plates or window decals - are more likely to be aggressive on the road...'
FAILS to acknowledge that it usually takes somebody doing something idiotic to trigger "road rage".
Did they test for "road ragers" WITHOUT doing something stupid? No?
How many without bumper stickers were pissed about missing a green arrow because some moron was sitting there?
Here's another glaring example of the "authorities" addressing the symptoms instead of the cause. The cause being(most of the time)
inconsiderate and/or, out and out stupid driving.
July 7, 2008
12:24 p.m.
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Frontranger writes:
jay writes:
i will say that every time i see a W sticker on a car i give that person a wide berth. if you're dumb enough to have voted for the monkey king you probably shouldn't be operating heavy machinery.
July 7, 2008
12:27 p.m.
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jax writes:
Are they bored at CSU? Their intellect is dizzing.
July 7, 2008
12:29 p.m.
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jax writes:
** Dizzying ** - ha, maybe I should go there too!! (sorry for the typo)
July 7, 2008
12:32 p.m.
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Marshdale writes:
90% SASQUACH? Really? Where do you get those numbers? Last time I saw a prison documentary it was about the NEO-Nazi prisoner problem and how violent they are. Please show me your stats.
July 7, 2008
12:39 p.m.
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RBN writes:
TAX $'s and Time went into this. How does this help anyone??? ..."well what we found out from our research is that jerks who have no sense of humor who put stupid stickers on their car's are more likely to have issues". Wow! Thanks, so what was the damage? 1 maybe 2 million tax dollars?
July 7, 2008
12:48 p.m.
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TheDenverB writes:
reading most of your posts, a lot of you seem like the type this study was done to point out.
it's really time to take a deep breath, folks. And please, don't go operating any heavy machinery any time soon.
July 7, 2008
12:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
P_Denver writes:
Relate this to the "Fairness or Censorship" blog, and you end up having to post a conservative sticker on the right side of your bumper, and -- for equal time -- post a liberal sticker on the left side of the bumper.
July 7, 2008
1:24 p.m.
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Clearcreek writes:
I find it amazing that a lot of the time when I encounter a "road rage" type of driver and after he/she is in front of me and I can see their plates they have a Colorado State Plate that says "Respect Life". Hmmmm, makes me really wonder.
July 7, 2008
1:30 p.m.
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EZBakeOven writes:
Uh, wasn't this in the news two weeks ago??
July 7, 2008
1:51 p.m.
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Shaggy writes:
Gene, Can we say Obamas middle name or will be be labeled?
July 7, 2008
2:05 p.m.
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Clearcreek writes:
Tommy - I think I've encountered you on the road.
July 7, 2008
2:11 p.m.
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jay writes:
you guys probably wouldn't have to worry that you're going too far trying to attack obama if you could defend mcsame's policy stances...
July 7, 2008
2:55 p.m.
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YourNeilness writes:
Whenever I'm being recklessly tailgated by a gigantic SUV with mom, dad and two kids in the back I politely try to find a chance to move over. Then I stare at the driver as they pass me, because I want to know what a moron looks like. Invariably, they always have a Bush/Cheney sticker, a pro-life sticker, a "respect life" license plate or some kind of "God" or "Jesus" bumper sticker, or all of the above.
July 7, 2008
3:01 p.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
Tommy
you might just be a republican.
July 7, 2008
3:24 p.m.
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CheapEnergyNow writes:
I'm just glad I can get some new bumper stickers to hold my car together. Four years is too long to wait. I've got an old Jimmy Carter sticker holding the rear view mirror on. I can't tell you the mess that the Clinton sticker made in the ash tray. The Al Gore Stickers keep plugging up my tail pipe and resetting my speedometer. The Kerry Stickers kept flinging my hood ornament into the weeds. I've noticed I need to put an Obama sticker on both sides of any car part. Having just one position doesn't work.
July 7, 2008
3:38 p.m.
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Dr_Jones writes:
If you don't like my driving dial 1-800-EAT-SHI!
July 7, 2008
3:53 p.m.
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redwhiteandBLUE writes:
I may have gotten in trouble with roadragers now, if I still had my bumper sticker that read..
'I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THAT SON OF A BUSH'
July 7, 2008
4:01 p.m.
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Clearcreek writes:
Very Mature Dr_Jones.
July 7, 2008
4:22 p.m.
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TheDenverB writes:
"Gene, Can we say Obamas middle name or will be be labeled?"
yeah, you'll be labeled a one-sided political junkie who thinks that because the man's middle name is Osama that he's somehow against America -- and that the more you use it, the more it will inform people of just how evil he really is.
... at least by those that aren't blindly following one party's rhetoric or another (or Faux news in your case)
We've already labeled Gene and Sasquatch the same way.
July 7, 2008
4:37 p.m.
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me2 writes:
What I find interesting is what you all might label aggressive driving.
I have had people quickly cut ahead of me, but I think they might have not allowed themselves enough time to signal. I don`t just call them names and assume they "cut me off" for some reason.
I would like another study to have sociologists ride with you complainers and keep tabs on your attitude. Folks tailgate because traffic slows down too quickly some times. You all seem to see that as a direct insult to you.
Before I accept the premise of the study, I want to know what they call aggressive driving, what is just sloppy driving, what is careless, and what comes from misjudgement.
July 7, 2008
4:55 p.m.
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Big_D writes:
Favorite bumper sticker:
It’s a picture of Bush with "TWIT HAPPENS" next to it.
July 7, 2008
5:12 p.m.
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jay writes:
i don't know, pjmama...why don't you spout it on the street corner and see what kind of reception you get.
July 7, 2008
6:04 p.m.
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Milehighguy writes:
I want to know why people speed up and close the gap when you put on your turn signal to move over? It's a Denver, Colorado thing. Never had it happen anywhere else.
You're better off just letting your turn signal flash once, then surprise the car behind you to your right or left, with a quick move into their lane.
July 7, 2008
7:04 p.m.
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GetReal writes:
Jay-
Answer Pajama's question you immature hypocritical coward.
July 7, 2008
7:36 p.m.
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snowbelly writes:
To the people who hate the respect life plates, theyr'e about columbine and just because they make you think of your jaded "kill the baby" mentality, try to remember their purpose. Also ,if you can see the car's signal ahead, you have to let them in. No excuses.It's usually women and young people who ignore the traffic rules or never knew them at all. Both groups spend an inordinate amount of tome on the phone.
July 7, 2008
8:32 p.m.
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davies writes:
"Also ,if you can see the car's signal ahead, you have to let them in. No excuses."
Would that be the car that zooms past 100 other cars when the driver sees the sign saying "lane closed ahead" and then when he/she gets to the lane change markers and barricades, he/she signals that he/she wants to merge?
Or the driver trying to merge, but he/she has a 'yield' sign?
"It's usually women and young people who ignore the traffic rules or never knew them at all." - Yeah, spoken like a true expert.
July 8, 2008
10:42 a.m.
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jay writes:
getreal...why the anger? are you a road rager?
i already answered pjmama's question. i don't know...why don't you give it a try and see what happens?