To Tap, or Not to Tap

[Chill]

Here is an interesting op-ed, written by a rider, in the LA Times regarding reducing the # of moto deaths.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-fleming-motorcycle-speeding-police-20190619-story.html

A speeding ticket does (reduce the speed at which riders travel). I know plenty of bikers who ride more slowly than they’d like to because they are maxed out on tickets. They’ve paid their fines, watched their insurance rates rise, and gone to traffic school to get a ticket dismissed so many times that they aren’t allowed to do that anymore.

I think it is an interesting premise; don't warn oncoming riders of popo, rider gets ticket, rider slows down and reduces risk of death, non-helmet tapper feels good that they possibly, potentially, maybe, saved a life. In the air of "something, ANYTHING!!" I get it. Simple. But...

But on the other hand, I have no interest in this at all. I call bullshit. Straight up, I'm a tapper and a waver. All fucking day. If I passed a CHiPy or LEO and didn't tap for an oncoming rider and they got a ticket, I would feel like shit and I wold become more vigilant about my waving and tapping.

What say you?

 

[gixxerjeff]

I see your point....but I'll still take the tap.
In fact, *the tap* saved my ass up at Berryessa two weeks ago. I passed 3 oncoming Harleys. Nothing but hate stares from the first two buy the third one gave me the tap that most certainly saved me several hundreds of dollars.
Yeah, I'll take the tap but I may become more critical of those I *tap at*.

 

[NoTraffic]

I tap regardless, most tickets are written for irrelevant behavior. If you die from a high speed crash, even a car LEO can't catch you.

 

[dravnx]

I'm a tapper and a waver. If I give the high sign to a passing rider and they high sign back, I assume the coast is clear. I've been fooled a couple of times though. Got the high sign, went around the next corner and there was LEO. Don't know if the other rider was fuqing with me or was ignorant.
I always tap if needed.

 

[orbframe]

I’m an LEO and I also tap... and appreciate the same

 

[matty]

If the author really wants to reduce speed, he should tap his helmet all the time, LEO or no LEO. I received a tap once and slowed way down, a mile passes then 2,5 a dozen, where's the cop? I think I continued to ride cautiously for the rest of that leg:laughing

And do tickets really slow most riders down, for a moment maybe, but it's really not a long lasting deterrent.

 

[thepretender]

I find his reasoning flawed and argument weak I tap and wave at anything on two wheels.

 

[mrzuzzo]

I think the author is imagining some sort of relation between taps and motorcycle deaths.

 

[Killin_ix]

I’m an LEO and I also tap... and appreciate the same

well.. there you go!

Tapper here as well.

 

[ScottRNelson]

If the author really wants to reduce speed, he should tap his helmet all the time, LEO or no LEO. I received a tap once and slowed way down, a mile passes then 2,5 a dozen, where's the cop? I think I continued to ride cautiously for the rest of that leg :laughing

Yes, I remember that happening on Redwood Road one time. Totally messed up my "spirited fun ride" and I never did see any sort of police vehicle.

Because there are fewer motorcycles in Idaho, all riders seem to be a bit better at waving than on equivalent roads in California. I've never seen a helmet tap here, but I've never seen a LEO running radar other than on the interstate either. One of these days I'll probably get caught, but I do a lot of riding out in the middle of nowhere and it's just not cost effective to have a LEO presence out there. :cool

 

[DucatiHoney]

There's an assumption in the article that speeding alone, under any circumstances = danger. I'm not arguing that speed doesn't make a bad situation worse more quickly. However, I'd be curious to know when/where people are getting tickets and when/where they're dying. I see little factual evidence other than random, disconnected statistics that issuing tickets save lives. Issuing tickets probably isn't taking (too many) lives. But one could argue, using his logic, that fleeing the cops has resulted in deaths speeding deaths too, and no one's arguing to stop giving tickets as a result of that.

 

[Toast]

Always tap.

 

[ST Guy]

What I'd like to know is when did tapping your helmet signify law enforcement in the area. When I started riding, back in the early 80's, the signal was sticking your hand up above your helmet with the index finger pointing straight up and making a circular motion similar to the old fashioned rotating red lights that police cars used to use.

 

[JakesKTM]

i see very few if any speed traps on county roads and fewer still on highways in California. I dont experience much need to warn others and, if im not warned and I get a ticket........ well I probly deserved it.

Thus in conclusion, keep it sane and avoid needing to rely on the tap, and when you get pulled over, be honest about speeding. Otherwise whats the point?

 

[Enchanter]

What I'd like to know is when did tapping your helmet signify law enforcement in the area. When I started riding, back in the early 80's, the signal was sticking your hand up above your helmet with the index finger pointing straight up and making a circular motion similar to the old fashioned rotating red lights that police cars used to use.

This.

Tapping your head / helmet has always meant "my aircraft" to me. Or with one particular person: "Fucking let go of the controls asshole, I'm going to keep us from getting killed."

 

[dravnx]

I think the head tapping started with a head tap meant heads up and then morfed to heads up, LEO down the road. Never heard the "it's my aircraft" head tap. A head tap on the flight deck means top off with fuel. In the cockpit, you say "its my aircraft" and then wiggle the controls.

 

[Blankpage]

Been riding for decades. Another speeding ticket isn't going to save my life.

 

[two wheel tramp]

Here is an interesting op-ed, written by a rider, in the LA Times regarding reducing the # of moto deaths.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-fleming-motorcycle-speeding-police-20190619-story.html



I think it is an interesting premise; don't warn oncoming riders of popo, rider gets ticket, rider slows down and reduces risk of death, non-helmet tapper feels good that they possibly, potentially, maybe, saved a life. In the air of "something, ANYTHING!!" I get it. Simple. But...

But on the other hand, I have no interest in this at all. I call bullshit. Straight up, I'm a tapper and a waver. All fucking day. If I passed a CHiPy or LEO and didn't tap for an oncoming rider and they got a ticket, I would feel like shit and I wold become more vigilant about my waving and tapping.

What say you?

I tap. (dat ass)



:later

 

[budman]

Tapping being related to MC deaths is a reach to me.
I have not seen tickets being a reason that someone I know slowed their roll. Perhaps it does for a few, at least for a while.

I tap, I wave...... iRIDE. :ride

 

[gixxerjeff]

I think it's cool some LEO's even tap.....that says a lot.
and who among us has *tapped* an oncoming LEO....I know I have. :laughing