Scary stickers are popular, but could mean trouble for car owners who buy them, warn police.
Motorists who put zombie stickers on their back windshields to startle drivers whose headlights are on full beam could be in for a shock themselves, city police said yesterday.
Because if the scary 3D designs lead to the driver behind crashing, the car owner with the stickers would be liable, said Shanghai traffic police.
Scary stickers featuring zombies, ghostly faces, vampires and blood-covered hands are widely available on taobao.com. Shanghai Daily found 200 items in a search for "horrible sticker".
One showing a woman's blood-stained face had been bought by 33 people.
Another with a woman holding a steering wheel, which could confuse a driver into thinking that the car was coming toward them, had 244 sales .
Online shop owners described the products as an effective way to frighten drivers dazzling motorists in front by having their headlights on full beam.
For while the transparent 3D images cannot be seen clearly when headlights are dipped, on full beam the frightening pictures leap out.
China's laws ban drivers from using full beam when close behind other cars or driving into oncoming traffic where there is no barrier to block the light.
Offenders face fines and a one-point deduction from their driving licenses, but it's hard to get evidence, say police.
Many drivers complain that they hate driving at night as some drivers have their headlights on full beam.
"I've experienced this lots of times," local driver Qiu Zheng, told Shanghai Daily, "The dazzling light makes my eyes uncomfortable and tired."
But Qiu said he did not approve of frightening drivers.
"These pictures can also be seen in the day and could frighten nervous drivers and children," he said.
