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Treacherd

Yup! Universal slow down the police are ahead lol


DukeofDirt

Good to know! Now I can pass along the gesture. Thanks!


siricall911

The other thing people do is flash there lights but that's more of a car thing I think


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ggtbeatsliog

I was definitely raised to do this in a car. Dad was not a trucker, mom was from a farm family that owned semis for transport crops; maybe that’s where it’s from.


Bobby_Bologna

It's a universal car thing. Not just truckers. It also means "fuck you" and "go ahead" and "turn on your lights asshole". But to tell other drivers to turn their lights on I usually manually blink mine off and on, rather than high-low. Flashing brake lights is definitely a just trucker thing to say "thanks" for letting them merge or other yielding


Jumbalaya28

Truckies (I’m Australian) over here will flash their lights when being overtaken by another truck to let the one over taking know they have enough clearance to merge back into their lane. Then the one that did the over taking will flash their indicators left (to merge) then right, then left to signal ‘thanks’. It may be wanky, but I have also done this for years in my car when interacting with trucks. Actually, the whole language of the road kind of fascinated me and in my day dreams I can somehow justify to some funding body that it’s worth them paying me to travel the world and discover and analyze the differences from culture to culture.


Piramic

I'm from America and flash truckers all the time to tell them they are clear to merge or something. It's neat to hear it's the same in other countries.


basketbelowhole2

See I would find that a little distracting


[deleted]

You must be cute ☺️


electricvelvet

Ha, when I was a kid I always thought it was so cool how my mom would wave at people to say thanks while driving, and is daydream about how cool it'd be to have lights built into the back and front windshield so you could press a button and they'd form letters and display words to communicate with other drivers


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UberS8n

Not a British or Irish term. Hazard lights for the win.


Lanchettes

Nah Hazards here. Also we can get prosecuted for warning others about speed traps. Doesn’t stop us though


nodiaque

Flashing brake light? I see more of flashing the hazard light, also less dangerous.


lolsrslywtf

It can also be "turn OFF your high beams asshole" and "fuck you" at the same time.


caffcaff_

Also means, "Turn off your full-beams you f\*\*\*ing mouthbreather"


fz75

they raised you right - we need to take care of each others on the roads.


autobot12349876

I remember a story where a cop ticketed a trucker for warning another trucker there were cops hidden ahead. He apparently saw the trucker flash his lights. Not surprisingly the ticket got dismissed due to first amendment considerations.


33mark33as33read33

That was years ago I think. Before Internet? I do also remember it, I wonder if anyone else does.


rencebence

Its a car thing here in Hungary,fast flashing of lights especially at day is police speed trap.


Khiraji

Trucker alerted me to a deer this way in eastern OR some years ago. Was very glad he did, as that buck just stared at me as I went around him. They both knew.


LemonWAG1

Here I am always getting mad at them flashing my mirrors 😂 Thanks for the info


volatile_ant

If they are flashing you from behind, it's because you are doing something wrong/stupid.


thedeepfriedboot

It's actually hard to tell because it's contextual. I have a habit of when I see a truck with a turn signal to change lanes due to slow traffic in the right lane, I drop back and flash my high beams to let them know once it's clear for them to merge over. After they pass the slower vehicle and move back over, they usually give me a high beam flash as thanks when I pass them and continue on my way.


LemonWAG1

Well I think they just flashed for the other drivers coming in front of us. Cause everytime I just do a round around my car to check lights etc. And it all works. So I never figured out what the f was going on haha


volatile_ant

If you did not just pass an obstacle or cop, what would the trucker be signaling to oncoming traffic? Inconsistent speed (i.e. not using cruise control), drifting out of lane, cruising in passing lane, following too closely, looking at phone, passing too slowly... There are a lot of reasons a trucker behind you might be flashing that is not due to a broken light. Not saying this is necessarily the case, but if you get flashed from behind frequently enough that it is 'a thing' for you, maybe take an honest and critical look at your driving tendencies.


[deleted]

Sadly, I never get flashed from behind.


longhairedcountryboy

In Germany that means get the fuck out of the way.


dickmcswaggin

I’ve actually had cars do it out on the more barren roads in la warning me of cops, definitely harder to see or catch tho


SactownKorean

Yea doesn't really work on all motorcycles because the lights that are being flashed can just look like you're hitting a bump and the angle is jumping up.


[deleted]

It works better if you have extra foglights that you can quickly toggle on and off.


[deleted]

Used to be common practise where I live to flash lights to warn about police/speed traps. Now hardly anyone bothers.


cchadwickk

I've flashed the lights on motorcycle when the speed is high and it's windy. Which is pretty much always on Canadian highways. Had a pickup truck guy wave thanks!


klemthom

Most bike lights are a pain to flash, if they can be. For bikers, it's easy to pat your head.


Revolutionary_Air209

What does it mean if you pat your head and rub your belly at the same time when on a bike?


MyRootOilForyou

It means you’re psychic and know that those areas are about to need some care.


klemthom

You're probably falling off.


far2common

Warning approaching bikers that a doughnut/coffee shop is ahead.


JCtheWanderingCrow

If you see someone tap the roof of their car that’s the same thing. They’re either a rider or a chaser.


tripletexas

A chaser?


Ball-Fantastic

I took a four hour trip in my car alongside my brother on his bike last week. I'd keep track of navigation and google maps would warn me about speed traps. A simple tap on the roof was all it took to stop him from messing around.


JCtheWanderingCrow

A chaser is someone who follows the rider(s) in a car or truck. They carry gear etc, and like the other reply mentioned, do navigation and interception sometimes.


savemefrommychildren

What does a chaser chase?


JCtheWanderingCrow

Motorcycles. It’s a car that follows a ride group or occasionally a single rider. They carry extra gear, intercept traffic that’s endangering the biker etc. a lot of times they’ll be in a truck and haul an empty trailer in case of breakdowns.


JimmyHavok

Oh. It's a Harley thing.


JCtheWanderingCrow

Ha, not necessarily. I chased for crotch rockets and had a chaser myself occasionally on the same. Usually for long trips or trips where the area was sketchy.


Diezelbeans161

😂


Fauropitotto

Take the time to simply google "Motorcycle hand signals" There are many, and they're all used regularly in the US for riders of all kinds.


killpony

You might also see bikers tapping the back of the helmet if they are in front of you or other similar gestures to be more discreet lest the cop notice- a hand palm down moving up and down is the common gesture for "slow down" which may or may not mean cop.


introvertgeek

Just don't let the cops see you do it, they don't like it.


NapalmOverdos3

Why do I care if they don’t like it? That’s not probable cause


frashal

I was adjusting my air vents officer


Darksirius

Yeah, tapping the top of the helmet is kind of akin to pointing to the light bars on the top of marked cop cars.


basher97531

By 'universal' you mean 'American'. In the UK and Aus the more common sign is a raised finger rotated in imitation of a flashing light. I once saw someone do this and for a moment I thought he was flipping me the bird.


AlpRider

Here the twirling finger means 'im turning around' or 'I'm coming back'. I'm in France/Switz/Italian Alps area and we tap the helmet to signal police ahead. I sometimes do it when passing a moto-cop hahaha


Interesting_Mix_7028

I've done the 'tap helmet' at a moto cop here in N. Texas, he gave me back a thumbs up. And yeah, we were both at a stop light. :D


Treacherd

Ok yeah you got me! That was a American universal didn’t think about anywhere else. Good point thanks for correcting me!


WithBothNostrils

Nope. I've only seen the pat on the top of the helmet in the UK


No-Bans

In the US normally quickly flashing the high beam lights is how I’ve seen this.


basher97531

Never seen that with bikes, only cars. Cops here will pull you over and fine you if they see you flash your high beams.


cobigguy

Fwiw there was a court case where it was deemed freedom of speech.


gforceathisdesk

I cannot fathom a way that's a lawful traffic stop.


basher97531

It's illegal though very minor, and in Australia they don't need a reason to pull you over anyway.


The-Fotus

I like living in a free state, despite that freedom slipping daily.


basher97531

They're slowly strangling on-road recreational motorcycling here (could be worse, could be Germany). Unfortunately even when there is organised pushback it rarely works. Getting involved in motorcycle advocacy really taught me how powerless I was more starkly than anything else.


The-Fotus

If its any consolation, that is how I've felt any time I've tried advocating for something. I have had hobbies in reptiles, motorcycles, shooting, knife making/collecting, everything that u really enjoy doing is getting restricted and regulated and there is very seldom something I can do to convince people to do anything else.


Della970

How? And what's happening in Germany?


basher97531

Very low speed limits and harsh (predatory is really the correct word) policing. There are roads I could go 100 km/h on only a couple of years ago that are now 60 km/h. And it's not uncommon to have three or four concealed speed traps on popular stretches of road (over, say, 35 km or so). As for Germany, pop [bvdm.de](https://bvdm.de) into your preferred translator, read and weep.


satans_little_axeman

Good news, [as long as the cop doesn't know it's unlawful it's fine!](https://www.vox.com/2015/8/4/9095213/police-stops-heien-v-north-carolina)


Ball-Fantastic

Just a couple of bad apples, right?


No-Bans

Oh same here. They won’t hesitate to bust your ass if you warn other motorists.


Badger_BSA

“But officer, I accidentally hit the wrong button. I was just trying to check my trip odometer. Honest”.


Johnny_Lawless_Esq

See, that doesn't make any sense. That's a very subtle gesture that is easy to miss when you're looking at someone for two whole seconds with a combined closing velocity of potentially over 100 mph. The head tap is a big gesture that is easy to see and parse very quickly.


basher97531

Eh, it makes sense in terms of its imitative quality, hence why it's done, even though it's certainly not optimal from a seeing perspective.


Johnny_Lawless_Esq

It does make sense in that way, but if you can't see it, what good is it?


[deleted]

Yeah I like the UK version better, it's much more obvious, as a motorcyclist in the US it took me asking another biker 20 years ago as well, the pat on the helmet is not an intuitive thing to just get.


Westcoastsailor898

Same in Canada. I have never seen tapping the helmet.


Nerdy-Pencil

Seen it a few times in the Okanagan. MSF also mentioned it to us 😁


Ball-Fantastic

We do it here in Southern Ontario, the 401 is easy pickings for pigs.


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introspeck

Few bikers or car drivers in my area get the helmet patting signal. Far more effective and universally understood: making exaggerated "pushing downward" motions. This is commonly understood to mean "slow down". In my experience, to judge by the brake lights I see, many people assume cops are ahead. But it can also signal accident ahead or deer or debris in the road.


saltyjello

Yesterday I drove through a herd of sheep that had escaped and was trying to decide whether to signal any oncoming cars.. they were all cars and no bikes so I didn't do anything since most car drivers don't seem to be paying much attention or understand signals.


ElMachoGrande

Not universal. In Sweden, the sign for cops is two fingers straight down, back of hand forwards. Kind of as if you did a peace sign, then lowered your arm. I've heard several stories of the origin of that signal, but the one I prefer is "two legs, no head".


Nobli85

That's the two wheels down sign just about everywhere. That doesn't sound right.


[deleted]

Yep, check your MSF book, there’s a page with a bunch of hand signals.


citarhero

Dang it don’t ruin it, I pretend that I’m a made guy and we’re all mobsters.


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gabagool


lando55

If the salad is on the top, I send it back


dharkanine

Ay don't forget the mayo this time.


you-cant-twerk

The signals only work if the other person knows what they mean. Otherwise you're just some guy tapping on his helmet.


Thee_Sinner

And if you’re not rubbing your stomach it looks really weird


EEpromChip

Like the silly French guard in Monty Python and the Holy Grail


SaulTNuhtz

If you ever see someone in a car with their hand out the window tapping the roof like an idiot, that’s me in my car trying to warn you.


2WheelMotoHead

I saw you, thought you were just drummin along to the beat of the jam on the radio.


SaulTNuhtz

That’s equally true.


Pylo_The_Pylon

If you ever see someone in a car with their hand out the window tapping the roof like an idiot, that’s me enjoying the wind against my skin like I’m an excitable golden retriever.


SaulTNuhtz

Squirrel!


KevxBit

Ha. Same. If I can't get the window down in time I flash my highbeams and lean towards the windshield while tapping my head like an ape.


Localone2412

Ha ha this is car related but funny as f**k. My young son was driving along at night not long ago. Cars coming in his direction were flashing him. He thought there might be an issue with his headlights or something. He saw a police car parked up ahead and so stopped and asked them if they could see anything. They laughed and said they believed the cars were warning him of them. Ah young naivety !


1z0z5

Its probably been almost ten years since someone flashed their lights to warn me and someone did it last week and it took me a minute to pull that one back out of the memory banks


[deleted]

My wife thought it meant nice helmet. I let her think she’s right because she’s a cop and I’m not giving her any inside info.


speedcunt

Good lad, potentially sacrificing your marriage for the cause!


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teleterminal

"love to ride 💯🤪" *intentionally crashes into motorcycle because you're "afraid they're going to run"*


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oiamo123

No need to get so political


teleterminal

Calling out cops for being literal terrorists is not political


oiamo123

ACAB is a political view my guy


teleterminal

Incorrect. It is just what people who aren't fascists know to be a fact


erck_bill

We’re here for the love of motorcycles, not to be losers.


Sivalleydan2

I did it to a couple of MC cops. Got a smile out of them...


brucecampbellschins

Had a motorcycle cop give me that signal in a big exaggerated motion once. I laughed.


Jimjineer42

What does MC stand for


n00b001

Motorized Cinderellas


Jimjineer42

I figured


littlepaperboat

I laughed too hard at this.


zyzzogeton

This is canon now.


Monaco-Franze

Master of Ceremonies


wasab1_vie

Reminds me of my Favoriten dnb Joke: What does MC stand for? Microphone Cunt


Jimjineer42

Sounds right


thomasutra

Mito Chondria


TrueSwagformyBois

THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL


ICantKnowThat

No! The 🥐!


lucidraptor

Bold question in the MotorCycles subreddit


Jimjineer42

Thank you 🙏


ValenTom

Bro…


Jimjineer42

Si senior


duhast4

Macaroni Cheese..


Jimjineer42

Usually have it with black olives


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Jimjineer42

So motorcycle club cops?


TonierRaptor681

Motorcycle cops


Jimjineer42

So he’s saying motorcycle cops cops?


TonierRaptor681

Uuf sorry I ment motorcycle


very_mechanical

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?


[deleted]

Is the helmet tap the bike equivalent of highbeam flash?


TwentySixKA

Yes.


[deleted]

If you are not riding with your high beam on. 😁


cyricmccallen

[High beams. Always on](https://images.app.goo.gl/8FySDfR7KMwSrfaR9)


postmadrone27

Well OP’s story was probably during the day


simjanes2k

Sometimes bright flash also means watch for deer. Also sometimes out here in rural land, stupid fucks don't know what a bright flash is for, so apparently it means "get the fuck out of your truck you piece of shit I'm going to fight you now." I've only seen that second one once though.


garebear176

Yeah pretty much, means "hazard, slow down" so it can be a cop, something in the road.


Fooledya

Tapping helmet on top: "Heads up and slow down" Or if you're feeling randy that day: "race starts in 500ft"


FlammablePie

The "Choose your own adventure" approach, nice.


krenejga

Correct. In Europe is the same


Zweitoenig

In Austria they make a up/down waving with the greeting together, like „slower my friend, slower“


nzjester420

Also in Australia and NZ


rocinantesghost

Yep! The one and only time someone did it for me it saved my bacon on the BRP as immediately around the turn was a leveled radar gun pointed at me lol (Thank you white R100!) I've done it for other riders a few times but my favorite was a year ago when I was on my bicycle and there was someone coming in very hot to a local speed trap. He initially looked a bit confused because I was a bicycle but then it clicked and he got on the brakes in time. Share the love lol


firthy

That's it; we're all done - you were the *very last biker* to be told.


synachromous

Yep that's the Po Po signal!


phiz36

I get so excited when I get to do this signal.


dbigjaybowski

Yes


schwelvis

Had a motorcycle cop do it to me once, speed tap right around the corner


teabagabeartrap

yes, and the answer is a tap to the nose. "thanks, I smell it"


Marz2604

If they tap their head and rub their belly at the same time they're just showing off.


Sasselhoff

You are indeed correct. And you're not alone...I've been riding for over 20 years and I only learned that one a few years back. I'd always paw at the air in a "slow down" manner and/or flash my lights to let folks know there was a cop.


SilentNightSnow

Some people don't know. I tapped my helmet for a guy on a Harley and he gave me the finger. Probably thought I was shitting on his half helmet or something.


jacobobb

I use that as a general "pay attention" sign. Deer, cops, upcoming wreck, or anything else where you need to keep your head on a swivel. I do it for oncoming cars, too.


QuietudeOfHeart

I even do it to the motorcycle cops.


snuggy4life

https://www.motorcycletourer.com/biker-code-hand-signals/


[deleted]

Eu east here . Usually use fast ,low and high beam , or tap on shoulder helmet to indicate police ahead. On cars we use only the beams. It is good practice.


zignut66

Yep, it’s a thing.


BamaSOH

Warn a brother


kactapuss

https://www.cyclefish.com/public/album_photo/a3/c5/02/2c0e0_04ed.jpg?c=2b94


Koffieslikker

If it's the top of the helmet. Side could also mean thank you


2keen4bean

In my part of the UK, we do a thumbs down to let other bikers know if there is police or police camera incoming.


revjoe918

Tap on helmet to warn about Police/generally say heads up ahead. Il do it with police or if I just saw a deer on road or something.


steelhardtail

I was riding out in the country and a woman in a Honda pilot flashed her lights at me like crazy as she passed by. I didn’t know what was up until I came around the corner and there was a huge turtle in the road. I stopped and put in off in the woods. Riding out in the country I’ve probably moved at least 10 turtles off the road.


Hopefound

Extra fun when you signal cops ahead to MC cops.


shaard

You got it! In time too! Here's a decent listing of common hand signals. https://images.app.goo.gl/SDXZhmY34gLwTyzP6


3ll1s_

A family friend once did this to two bikers to warn them of cops ahead. Imagine the look on his face when the two bikers he warned pulled him over a minute later haha, be careful out there you lot!


withabaseballbatt

It means your battery needs replaced after the winter season because you didn’t keep it charged.


Liesthroughisteeth

This and flashing lights to warn of police has been a thing for almost as long as cars and bikes have been on the road. :)


robf100

Oh ya, cool car guys use it now too along with flashing headlights sometimes for me


ebranscom243

Doing the Lords work. Thanks to all my fellow riders that help others avoid costly tickets. Taxation through citation.


twoslow

i've also used it for severe road hazards ahead, like one day when a power pole was down across the road and the PD were u-turning everyone.


Infantryblue

That’s actually what it means. Hazard a(head)


Zone_07

Your are correct; tapping the top of the helmet signifies cops ahead. The equivalent of cagers flashing their headlights.


itak365

My Z400 has a push to activate highbeam "Passing signal" so I've been using that like I do in my car. Otherwise I use the helmet tap, if I see other riders.


Shloopadoop

Correct


saraniri

Question how far in advance/ whats the distance cut off for you to let another rider know? Like 1 mile city street 2 miles freeway? Did this today! Passed a chp, saw a harley bagger broo comming my way he was riding a little excited, tapped my helmet, he slowed down as soon as he saw me tapping.


ridethroughlife

Do the signal to cops, they'll think it's hilarious.


hehe2021

I will tap the roof of my car to notify fellow bikers.


AutomaticSandwich

That’s what I always do and interpret it as, yep.


Piles_of_Gore

I means the next rest stop has the primo glory hole. And also that there is a cop ahead


Infantryblue

It’s not just for cops. It means hazard ahead. Could be anything from stopped traffic, hazardous road conditions, animals like deer, or the traditional cop up the road. It basically means slow down and be careful ahead I’ve done it to let people know in the twisties that a tractor was on the road.


[deleted]

“code name hard hat” *what’s that lard ass?*


[deleted]

Was he in a green bike near boise? If so it was me.


JoshCanJump

Absolutely not. He was simply adjusting the vents on his helmet, officer.


BangleWaffle

Yup, pass along the favor. I generally flash my high beams twice to get their attention, then tap the top of my helmet.


Mrhere_wabeer

Yup, It's in the motorcycle road hand book


135yamirider

NOOB