That's the culture.

I most definitely wave and smile at police ... but that's a cultural thing, too. I've lived where I smiled and waved and was grateful I was of a profile less likely to get shot by them.

An Irish teacher here has said he is absolutley going to get me a reflective jacket per the law's requirements where he's from... he can't imagine people riding without them.

I think it does make a lot of sense to emphasize something that's likely to *prevent* an accident.