{"id":8289,"date":"2023-04-17T17:12:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T17:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=8289"},"modified":"2025-01-17T16:21:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T16:21:09","slug":"worst-bumper-stickers-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/auto-fun-facts\/worst-bumper-stickers-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"Worst Bumper Stickers and Decals: Don’t Do It!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve probably heard the old joke about the police officer pulling over the woman who was yelling profanities and exhibiting classic road rage, but whose car is plastered with religious messages. When she asked why the officer had pulled her over, he explained that he figured the car must have been stolen since her behavior didn\u2019t add up to her \u201cHonk if you love Jesus!\u201d message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For better or worse, when you stick a plastic message somewhere on your vehicle, your fellow drivers are going to form an opinion about you. And that\u2019s the point, for many of us. We want to show others what a great sense of humor we have, proudly proclaim information about our political views or our families or, worse, show an amazing lack of taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, having a bumper sticker that stands above the rest can be a dangerous thing if the people around you are trying too hard to read your sticker and accidentally rear-end you during a traffic jam. In that situation, besides having a sense of humor and appreciating your funny bumper sticker, you\u2019d better hope the other driver has great car insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Displaying Our Lives Since the 1940s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We have a long history of wanting to share our views with complete strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The easily-recognizable bumper sticker has been around since the 1940s when a Kansas printer had one of those lightbulb moments. He began creating adhesive bumper stickers to sell in souvenir shops so people could tell their neighbors (and anonymous strangers) where they had been on vacation. It\u2019s still a popular place to find stickers today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the adhesive-backed peel-and-stick display was available, people were not deterred from oversharing. Flags and other displays were attached to cars with wires and strings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does Your Bumper Sticker Say About You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is your display actually funny or is it a darker humor that only some people will understand? Want to diffuse road rage or try to compel people to vote for your candidate? How about sending out a message of peace and love for the planet – not to worry, there\u2019s a sticker for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a short list of some of our truly groan-worthy bumper stickers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a bumper message that says: This bumper sticker never changed anyone\u2019s mind. And that\u2019s the truth. When you put a candidate\u2019s name on your vehicle, you are showing support and, in more recent years, what side you are on! Just keep in mind that one day (soon) the election will be over and you\u2019ll be stuck with a possibly losing candidate\u2019s name on your car. Don\u2019t forget that unsavory revelations could emerge about your favored candidate \u2013 and if that happens, you may not want to be remembered as the person who had the wool pulled over your eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ben<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Anonymous Help Groups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So, it should be obvious that if you belong to such a group, you\u2019ve taken a pledge to honor the anonymity of the group. There\u2019s not much that\u2019s less anonymous than putting a display on your vehicle. But people have been making gags about these groups since they began, so a little fun on a serious subject probably won\u2019t hurt. And maybe it makes you feel like you belong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hokey<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Road Rage Much?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remember the old Saturday morning cartoon where blind Mr. Magoo shouted at other drivers with fist raised as he caused accident after accident? That may have been the first road rage. Since then, we\u2019ve moved on to road rage that runs the gamut from \u201cfriendly\u201d gestures to literal death threats. If you can help it, go easy on the road rage and don\u2019t make yourself a target of some unhinged person who hates everything and everybody \u2013 including your views of the world as expressed on your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

However, you might be surprised to read about this study<\/a> that shows drivers with bumper stickers are more aggressive than those without. And it apparently makes no difference if the sticker is promoting world peace or the darkly-humorous \u201cMy kid beat up your honor student\u201d. According to the study\u2019s author, William Szlemko, these drivers are showing they are territorial with their bumper stickers and will defend their perceived space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holding the Car Together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Does your car look like it might fall apart without the adhesive from the bumper stickers? Or does it make you look schizophrenic with competing messages that have changed over time and now contradict each other? Keep in mind that if you ever want to trade your vehicle in or sell it, even one bumper sticker may be too many!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"car<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Public Service Announcements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Parents, especially first-time parents, are prone to taking many more cautionary steps for baby number one. By the time baby number three comes along, they\u2019ve usually relaxed \u2013 a lot. However, the \u201cBaby on Board\u201d signs and stickers are supposed to serve a purpose \u2013 but only if they are used correctly. These notifications are to alert emergency responders to look for a baby or small child. Don\u2019t put an adhesive sticker on your car that cannot be removed during times the baby is NOT in the car. Responders will spend valuable time searching for a baby that is not present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"honk<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Although parents may believe other drivers will be more careful around them with such a display, the opposite is actually true. As we mentioned above, other motorists distracted by your sign may cause a wreck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Your Message?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to talk about privacy and safety in this conversation. Along with oversharing on social media, sometimes our bumper stickers can provide information about us that, in reflection, we may not want complete strangers (and possibly criminals) to know. For example, it\u2019s better to listen to country music on the radio<\/a>, than tell the world about your music preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some things to consider before you attach a sticker to your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n