Wig Wag Taillights

[copdocpvd]

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/State-Laws.aspx?stateid=37


list by state (see map on bottom of page) of applicable laws including whether it's legal to have a modulated brake light in your state

I was in law enforcement for over a decade, I don't know any cop who would write a ticket for a modulated brake light (unless you had it flash blue and red) on a motorcycle, regardless of the written law  (well, unless the driver was REALLY being an ass)

[maxtog]

list by state (see map on bottom of page) of applicable laws including whether it's legal to have a modulated brake light in your state

I was in law enforcement for over a decade, I don't know any cop who would write a ticket for a modulated brake light (unless you had it flash blue and red) on a motorcycle, regardless of the written law  (well, unless the driver was REALLY being an ass)

Well, nobody is questioning the legality of a brake light modulator- only the one that includes the YELLOW turn signals in the brake light function.  It is a grey area (I have looked at various legal stuff before and it isn't completely clear- rear facing yellow lights are generally only allowed as turn signals on typical vehicles).  It is unlikely anyone would get pulled for it (or a ticket for it), but it is certainly possible.  I do think it will send a  non-standard and possibly confusing message to other drivers and that there are better alternatives (modulating just the brake light or adding additional red brake lights with and/or without modulation).

[rocknrod]

Most Police Officers feel differently.
I would think they get tired of seeing motorcycles rear ended at stop lights/signs.
Where a standard tail light has failed in many cases.
Either way your entitled to your opinion as am I and many others.
Now if you want to talk about modulating headlights. I'm not for those at all.

[Cuda]

Now if you want to talk about modulating headlights. I'm not for those at all.

One of the BEST things I put on my bike .... I love when people move over or s l o w d o w n

[maxtog]

Now if you want to talk about modulating headlights. I'm not for those at all.

Oh lordy, a hotly debated topic.  But I do agree with you.

[copdocpvd]

why would you want the yellows to modulate when you apply the brake?

[maxtog]

why would you want the yellows to modulate when you apply the brake?

Their concept is that it increases visibility and conspicuousness.   Which it does, no doubt, but with added issues.

[rocknrod]

If the added issues are being seen better and not getting rear ended by people who don't see motorcycles I'll take em.

[maxtog]

If the added issues are being seen better and not getting rear ended by people who don't see motorcycles I'll take em.

Both of which can be accomplished by just modulating the brake light and/or adding additional red brake lights (with or without modulation).

[DeansZG]

     
   wig-wag....hmmmm.....

  I'd be afraid of wanting to wear matching pajama outfits & stopping at every dairy queen w/ the wing crowd..

  those Volo lights however.....+1

 

[Conniesaki]

Stating the obvious, but: If it looks different than everything else it's going to get more attention. Confusing or not I'd rather have the attention of other drivers than not. I can't imagine somebody saying, "I saw all these confusing flashing lights, so I accelerated."

[gPink]

Stating the obvious, but: If it looks different than everything else it's going to get more attention. Confusing or not I'd rather have the attention of other drivers than not. I can't imagine somebody saying, "I saw all these confusing flashing lights, so I accelerated."

Turned out to be a cop behind me.   

[SVonhof]

The cheap http://www.3rdbrakeflasher.com/ seems like a good option. I already have the Vololight plate frame, so I would have to put this flasher after the split for the Vololight, but that would be easy enough to do.

[maxtog]

Stating the obvious, but: If it looks different than everything else it's going to get more attention. Confusing or not I'd rather have the attention of other drivers than not.

You are absolutely correct, it will get more attention by being different.  But that is not necessarily a good thing.  Driving is mostly an automatic endeavor... it normally doesn't require a lot of conscious processing, which is a good thing, because it means that reactions are normally fast and efficient.  However, when something is encountered that is very different, it then kicks in conscious thought to make sense of the situation and that costs in reaction time.  It will vary greatly from person to person and for each situation, but it is still a factor.  There is also the possibility of  "novelty fixation"  in which something different becomes distractingly interesting, causing attention to drift.

I can't imagine somebody saying, "I saw all these confusing flashing lights, so I accelerated."

And yet I can easily imagine someone saying "I wasn't sure what I saw and lost some time before I realized he was braking"  or "For a split second I thought there were two vehicles so I couldn't judge the distance correctly and didn't realize how close he was" or "I was fascinated by these unusual lights ahead and didn't see that car drifting in my lane".

[copdocpvd]

     
   wig-wag....hmmmm.....

  I'd be afraid of wanting to wear matching pajama outfits & stopping at every dairy queen w/ the wing crowd..

  those Volo lights however.....+1

 

I haven't seen the need for pajama outfits, but I notice a lot of people aren't sure if I'm a cop or not when it's flashing and give me plenty of extra room, and that doesn't bother me a bit