DESIGNER

Sydnie Dong

PROFILE/DESCRIPTION

Road Rage: Rattled THE Gadsden flag was first flown in 1775, when the rebellion against the British first broke out, bright yellow with a black rattlesnake coiled above the motto “Don’t tread on me.” And soon it will be an American license plate too. Texas has already authorized a special yellow plate with the rattlesnake coiled at the left, and Virginia and Nevada may soon follow suit. Anyone who wants one will be able to choose the yellow version, on payment of a small extra fee each year. ... And so the Gadsden plates will be divisive. Cars have a way of doing that. Tom Vanderbilt, a journalist, explains in his book “Traffic” that the world’s roads are a desperately complicated space, socially and psychologically. Drivers navigate the snarls without the usual tools of human communication, such as eye contact or conversation. In that context, minor indicators—a bumper sticker, a child’s car seat—can speak volumes. Tooling around town with a controversial slogan on the back of the car may be taken as a form of aggressive behavior. It might even be enough to make other people feel a bit downtrodden. In that case, of course, there is a perfect plate for them. Article courtesy of The Economist Article shortened