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Bumper stickers are often used on commercial vehicles so that employers can receive feedback about the driving habits of their employees
A bumper sticker is an adhesive label or sticker with a message, meant to be attached to the bumper of an automobile and to be read by the occupants of other vehicles. Most bumper stickers are about 3 inches by 12 inches and are often made of PVC.
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Contents
- 1 Purpose
- 2 Application and removal
- 3 History
- 4 Around the world
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Purpose
Image:Petewilson1996
A typical political bumper sticker
Bumper stickers can be political, religious, humorous, or in support of a team or other organizations. They may promote or oppose a particular stand. Bumper stickers are a popular way of showing support for a candidate for a governmental seat and become more common during election years.
Application and removal
Due to the movement of the vehicle and changing weather conditions, it is vital that the sticker adhere well to the bumper surface. However, there are some "easy to remove" bumper stickers and magnetic bumper stickers, occasionally made to be used as pranks by putting them on someone else's vehicle -- especially ones that taunt police officers (eg: I dare you pigs to pull me over). One way to remove a sticker is with penetrating oil.
History
A bumper sticker promoting a radio station.
Bumper stickers could not predate the introduction of the automobile bumper; the Ford Model T lacked bumpers to which bumper stickers could be conveniently attached, but the Ford Model A, introduced in 1927, had them. One online source[1] credits the current bumper sticker to Forest P. Gill, a silkscreen printer from Kansas City.
The first bumper stickers appeared shortly before World War II; they were flag-like, and attached to the bumper by wires. Gill replaced the wire attachments with pressure sensitive adhesive, and as a result bumper stickers became more widespread and practical.
Around the world
Considerable variation exists around the world as to the context and purpose of stickers.
On some vehicles, some stickers are like trophy signs of WWII aeroplanes, either of locations visited or actions completed.
They have also been extensively applied to rear windows as well, where legislative measures have not banned such use.
Categories: Accuracy disputes | NPOV disputes | Signage
