If you’ve been cruising around Charlotte lately, you might’ve noticed a surge of black and yellow bumper stickers reading “Student Driver – Please be patient.” Obviously, some of these stickers are on cars with genuine student drivers behind the wheel. But let’s be honest, not all of them are. In fact, if you take a closer look at some of these drivers, they seem to be well past their teenage years. So, what’s the deal with the sudden rise of these stickers in Charlotte?

It turns out this phenomenon isn’t unique to Charlotte. Similar sightings have been reported in major cities across the US, all within the last year or so. After some digging, it appears most of these drivers aren’t students (shocker, right?). They’re actually just regular drivers who claim they experience more courteous treatment on the road with these stickers. It makes sense, really. Other drivers tend to be more cautious and forgiving when they see the sticker, compared to driving without it.

Another reason is that supposedly, these people also get preferential treatment from police and are less likely to get pulled over.

This trend might also be fueled by word-of-mouth. Maybe someone had a positive experience driving with the sticker and told a friend, and before you know it, they’re popping up everywhere in Charlotte. Whether this trend sticks around is anyone’s guess. But one thing’s for sure: Charlotte hasn’t seen a dramatic increase in student drivers. It’s mostly people taking advantage of other drivers’ good manners on the road.