Why decals may drive road rage
Why decals may drive road rage

Comments Comment on this article13

By Jessica Jackson
Published: July 5, 2008

A recent study found that bumper stickers and other vehicle personalization could be indicators of an aggressive driver.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol points to another factor — hot weather. Incidents of road rage and aggressive driving are worse during the summer, Lt. George Brown said.

Featured Gallery

 

Advertisement

"We do see incidents of road rage going up in the summer, when it gets hot,” Brown said.

Whether it's the heat or the bumper sticker, all agree aggressive driving can be dangerous.

The study published in the June issue of the Journal of Applied Social Psychology suggests that drivers with bumper stickers, window decals and personalized license plates are more likely to succumb to road rage.

Paul Bell, the Colorado State University psychology professor who co-authored the study, said it was based on the theory that there are three types of territory: Primary, secondary and public. When an area is private, the person will go to lengths to protect it and may become aggressive, according to the theory.

The more personal a driver makes his or her car, the more likely that driver will feel the need to defend it when someone gets in the way, even though the road is a public area, Bell said.

"They take it as an offense against their private territory,” he said. "They get confused about the social norms about defending a primary versus a public territory.”

It does not seem to matter which type of personalization is used, Bell said.

Another theory
Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma, said he is skeptical of the study results. "I would doubt if there were any correlation at all,” he said. "It just kind of strikes me as silly.”

Instead, Mai said he thinks people are willing to be more aggressive in their vehicles than in public because vehicles more or less hide the aggressor.

"The problem with the motor vehicle is it offers a certain amount of anonymity,” he said. "Remember, driving is not a contest.”He said one of the reasons he thinks drivers have become more aggressive is because most people are in a hurry while they are driving.

Personal issues also play a part in a person's attitude while on the road, he said.


 

Related Topics: Science and Technology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Psychology

Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford
Ads by Yahoo!

Hugh Downs Reports:
Natural discovery lowers high blood pressure and cuts artery plaque.
www.bottomlinesecrets.com
Hd Installers
Read reviews for this business with directions, offers and more.
Oklahomacity.Citysearch.com

shareView All

Buzz Up!


Leave a Comment

Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online

Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.


Log in below or sign up (it's free).





What's next, all people with bumper stickers look alike? We've heard generalized assumptions before, they need to do more research rather than take a theory and mold the results to match their theory.
J.T.(I), Norman - Jul 5, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Well Cale I have to totally disagree with you. And for you to say you have a degree in psyc., soc., and rhetoric who cares what degree you have. That has nothing to do with how people have road rage. Sense your so damn smart then why haven't you come up with a reason as to why it happens and what is the cure for it. That is so stupid. I don't care what kind of a degree you have road rage is those idiots out there that are having a bad hair day and want to take it out on innocent people regardless of what their tags read or bumper sticker says. That is just so lame brain to even think of that. Think of how many people have name tags and how many vehicles have bumpers stickers on them. That adds up to a whole lot of vehicles. I still think it those that are drugged up and alochol. A sensiable person wouldn't act like that no matter what your bumper sticker says or tag!
glenda, oklahoma city - Jul 5, 2008 at 7:34 pm
There is some merit to this but very limited. My experience has been that when I travel to another state via rental car, or I rent a car at that location, I always preference a vehicle with a tag from that state. An example is my recent trip to Fort Worth for a convention. I rented from my local Hertz within walking distance and chose a fuel efficient model. The fuel savings paid for itself and I got a new vehicle to drive. I went up there to look and found the lot was full of vehicles with Texas tags. So I referenced that in the reservation and got it. I believe you are less likely to get mistreated in Texas if you have a Texas tag. I also believe your car is less likely to get burglarized since thieves may prey on people on vacation. I did the same for a month long rental from California. I believe people seeing a California tag in front of them treat people better than if it was from Arizona or Colorado. How about crimson pickup trucks who attach an upside down horn decal in their rear window then drive to Texas. I can garawntee you that there will be trouble down der!
Sparky (Mark), Oklahoma City - Jul 5, 2008 at 6:18 pm
They suggested calling *55 above. The primarily works in the metro area but not in rural areas. I'm not saying that it will not connect to an OHP dispatch office. I am saying that in rural areas they are the least bit concerned with those types of calls. I guarantee you that they will NOT put out such calls. The only reason they put out the calls for Troop A is because they used to ignore them until someone was killed. After that, they pretty much just broadcast information people call in. Now its another matter if any trooper writes down the broadcasted information or just goes on his or her way.
John, Stigler - Jul 5, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore John
I love this! How typical, people without any serious study of psychology or sociology making assumptions about a study that they have absolutely NOTHING to offer but their own experience from their own tiny sphere of life. Having a degree in both psyc., soc. and rhetoric, the study makes perfect sense to me. Are there other factors that contribute such as weather and societal stability, certainly but to discount a serious theory without so much as a shred of documentation says a lot about peoples ability to synthesize information. To me, the theory makes sense. Anyone who has ever seen the way some people seem to have a serious NEED to be heard, to the extent that they are willing to destroy the appearance of their automobile ought not be ignored. All I say is don't disregard something simply because YOU don't necessarily see a connection.
Cale, oklahoma city - Jul 5, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore Cale
George Brown I not sure where you got your information at but I don't buy that. So are you saying that road rage only happen's in hot weather. NO it doesn't it happen's no matter what kind of weather we have and as far as bumper stickers or personalized tags that is a bunch of bull. Come on you could come up with a better reason than that couldn't you. Would it be that we have a lot more vehicles on the roads nowdays and I honestly believe it has to do with alochol and drugs that some of these drivers are on. Along with some of these people have problem's with there spouse's and they are angry when they get in that vehicle and then take it out on innocent people out there doing nothing. It idiot's behind the wheel and there are all kinds out there so to point your finger at people that have personalized tags or bumper stickers is stupid. That tag has nothing to do with that idiot out there driving like a maniac! Road Rage goes a little bit deeper than a sticker or a tag! It's that person behind the wheel with personal issue's!
glenda, oklahoma city - Jul 5, 2008 at 11:14 am
Hmmm,so the shrinks are at it again.Pure BS.The shrinks have more problems than the road rage prone gubbers.
Jerry L., Guthrie - Jul 5, 2008 at 9:29 am
I don't think the reason for road rage has anything to do the value of this study. The value is that bumper stickers on a car gives a signal that the driver may be more prone to road rage. I can accept that.
jay, Mesa - Jul 5, 2008 at 9:03 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore jay
Very well said Mike!
K, Oklahoma City - Jul 5, 2008 at 8:39 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore K
Most of the incidents I have read concerning "road rage" the aggressor was just a punk and probably was even away from the car. Yes lets waste time and money finding a "reason" for this behavior. Who really cares?

Mark, Del City - Jul 5, 2008 at 8:07 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore Mark
Gee, I wonder if lots of caffeine, loud music, and emotional dysfunction have anything to do with it. Or maybe the guy behind me just didn't like my "No Hate" bumper sticker.
sandra, shawnee - Jul 5, 2008 at 7:12 am
It isn't the car..it isn't the gun..it isn't any inanimate object... it is people that have no repect for themselves or for others at a particular point in time. Road rage.. is just another term that means nothing the same as ADD or ADHD or liberal or conservative...tough on crime.. it's for the children... war on drugs.. somehow these names have added validity to a certain behavior.. Another is "hate crimes" I don't think many crimes happen because the parties "liked" each other. When we put a name to it then it must be the real thing. GARBAGE... it's knowing the difference between right and wrong that is not being encouraged.. but the opposite.. fight crime.. instead of help your neighbor..etc.. oh well..
Mike, Oklahoma City - Jul 5, 2008 at 4:49 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore Mike
I agree with Chuck Mai in his skepticism of the Journal of Applied Social Psychology suggesting that drivers with bumper stickers, window decals and personalized license plates are more likely to succumb to road rage. I think these psychologists need to look a little further to find the real cause of road rage. I think they need to find some new psychologists that can think a little deeper than these guys.
Dawn, Woodward - Jul 5, 2008 at 1:25 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore Dawn

    News Photo Galleriesview all