FREAK Shots: How Many Bumper Stickers Make a Bad Driver?
Driving a car can be depersonalizing. That’s why drivers use bumper stickers, bobble-heads, fish brake lights, racing stripes, etc. to show others on the road their personalities, explains Tom Vanderbilt in his book, Traffic.
A recent study by Colorado State University psychologist William Szlemko found a link between road rage and the number — but not content — of personalized items on a vehicle.
According to the study, the driver of this car (which sported no other bumper stickers) …
![INSERT DESCRIPTION](http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/freakonomics/posts/Bumper1.jpg)
is less likely to have road rage than the driver of this car …
![INSERT DESCRIPTION](http://www.nytimes.com/images/blogs/freakonomics/posts/Bumper2.jpg)
And, just wondering: do dogs in uniforms count as personal items?
![INSERT DESCRIPTION](http://www.nytimes.com/images/blogs/freakonomics/posts/Bumper3.jpg)
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