Bumper Stickers Indicate Potential For Road Rage?

Editor

A week ago, Rob published a blog about a little quiz which allegedly reveals how prone to road rage you are. But according to William Szlemko, a psychologist at the Colorado State University, you can learn everything you need to know about someone’s temperament on the road just by looking at their vehicle. After questioning hundreds of volunteers, Szlemko found that people who had "customized" their cars with seat covers, bumper stickers—the message didn’t matter—and even dashboard trinkets were more likely to be territorial while driving, and thus more prone to road rage. As silly as it sounds, I think the idea makes sense, and next time I see a car like the one below on the road, I’ll give it an even wider berth than usual. What do you think? Does this theory make any sense?

Permalink:

Posted at 9:05 pm in John Coyle, road rage

Comments

ram
Jun 25, 2008 at 6:10 pm

My friend has bumper stickers but she is the nicest person you will meet….

Anonymous
Jun 20, 2008 at 8:36 am

How I would love doing this Reverse save, looks amazing, Believe it or not… ………………………….., http://euro2008adidas.com/?um=13

GTwildfire
Jun 18, 2008 at 6:26 pm

Okay, sorry. You’re not stupid. and frankly all it takes is for someone to be in my way for too long to set me off.

Oafman
Jun 18, 2008 at 2:30 pm

I have to take offense to the first 2 comments here. I have owned several vehicles that have been adorned with bumper stickers. For those of us who drive older cars/trucks and who are barely staving off complete economic collapse, bumper stickers are one of the only ways that we can add personality to our rides. Besides I think it has to do with the type of stickers that you are festooning your ride with. Political ads or anything that only makes sense for about 6 months in the life of the car are useless. I personally have several stickers for organizations that I am part of on my truck. Does that make me stupid? Accuse me of being a Redneck or a Hillbilly for having bumper stickers, but never stupid.

Tony
Jun 18, 2008 at 7:49 am

I’m sorry but placing a sticker on your back window or fitting new seat covers IS NOT customising.

A Motorist’s Guide to Smart Driving
Jun 18, 2008 at 6:35 am

I think customizing the car parts is ok for me but decorating your car with stickers is one sure sign of stupidity…

GTwildfire
Jun 18, 2008 at 1:30 am

Hmmm… I wonder how prone to road rage someone is when he truly “customizes” his ride, instead of adorning it with stupid shit like bumper stickers, freaking trinkets and those stupid seat covers?
-
wait… I think I answered my own question.