July 10, 2018

Bumper stickers provide social expression in an environment where communication is through blinkers, horns and hand gestures. These pieces of decoration can also be helpful for the driver of the car and fellow motorists:

• Stickers and window clings can make your vehicle easy to identify. Not only is this beneficial for you when walking through a parking lot, it is also helpful for keeping your car safe by making it easy to identify. This can help police assist with finding your car if a thief takes the risk of going after it.     
• Bumper stickers on other cars can warn you of aggressive drivers.  Researchers at Colorado State University conducted a study on drivers and found that individuals who have bumper stickers and other territorial markers’ on their cars were found to be more aggressive drivers through tailgating, honking horns and other behavior. 

However, police have issued warnings on the use of bumper stickers:

• Moving billboards. Police in Atlanta, Ga., are asking families to think about their stick figure decals and other bumper stickers on their cars. These fun decorations might be sharing valuable information about your family to thieves. Information about where your kids go to school or high-paying occupations give information to thieves as to your location and the potential value of items in your car or home. Bragging about your kids' sports teams or other extra-curriculars could signal that you're away from home a lot.
• Advertising what you own. Police in Huntersville, N.C., are warning against having gun related stickers on your car. These cars have become targets for thieves who are searching for weapons to steal. 

Bumper stickers have been around since the 1940s, with origins linking to Kansas City. These pieces of advertising are as synonymous with the open road as the cars that drive it. From political campaigns, school pride, to vacations, there are no signs of a decline in popularity.