To understand the dangers of ghost riding a whip, one would need to understand the origins of where it all began. The term ‘ghost ride the whip’ is an impulsive and high-risk thrill among teenage drivers. You might have seen this new craze of stunts in videos drawing the attention of YouTube vloggers and dare devils all over who want to one up the previous stunt or perhaps strike BIG off their best STUNT EVER! The level of risk associated with ghost riding the whip is unimaginable and therefore a prime example of how driving or operating a moving vehicle without care can go terribly wrong.
Understand the Hyphy
A culture named “hyphy” that was coined and had its influential start by San Francisco Bay rapper Mac Dre. Hyphy became a movement among Bay Area youngsters. It is an environment of partying, high energy dancing, and lack of inhibitions. A different music style, hyphy culture also involves alcohol and drugs, especially ecstasy. When a teenager has reached the hyper state from which this culture originates from, they are considered to be going hyphy, getting stupid, or going dumb.Ghost riding the whip is considered one of the purest and highest forms of going hyphy. At one point, ghost riding the whip was centralized mostly to the Bay Area. However, ghost-riding trend became popular and worldwide when Bay area rapper E-40 released a song and video in 2006, called “Tell Me When to Go” featured on his My Ghetto Report Card album. This song glorified the hyphy culture and caused an epidemic of pop culture phenomenon.
What is Ghost Riding the Whip?
Whip is the slang term used for describing a car. Ghost is utilized in slang describes the act of ghost riding because no one is behind the wheel of the vehicle and the illusion is make people believe that a ghost appears to be driving the car.
Ghost riding the whip involves a driver placing his or her car in neutral or the car may be in drive for a higher risk.
Then they open the doors of the car, exit the vehicle, and then walk and dance while the car is moving. An accelerated thrill of ghost riding the whip can be accomplished by climbing on the moving vehicle’s roof, hood, or trunk to dance with no one behind the wheel of the car. Common characteristics of ghost riding are as such:
- No place is off limits for ghost riding. Typically, people ghost ride the whip on a dead-end street or empty parking lots. However, that does not mean that ghost riding does not occur on a highway, a busy street, or a residential road.
- The Hyphy movement displays that the car stunts should be seen. Many of those who have ghost ride say that they do not want to ghost ride if no one is watching. Therefore, ghost riding occurs with many influences from those around or cheering on the driver known as sideshows.
- Furthermore, ghost riding is commonly done in groups. The group setting provides bragging rights for the one performing the stunts in videos with the most detailed and choreographed routines. Many teenagers talk of the experience of a huge adrenaline rush they feel while ghost riding.
- The ‘ghost ride the whip’ trend is popular for males who wish to earn brownie points from females who seek the risk takers or bad boys. However, it is not limited to males. Females ghost ride as well for the same reason.
Risky Behavior in Ghost Riding
While ghost riding seems very spontaneous and adventurous, it does come at a cost. Drivers, especially teens feel driven to beat the one before them, or at least complete it better. With a moving vehicle, there are elements for unpredictability. It is very hard to maintain your balance on the hood, trunk, or roof of a car. Injuries are highly likely in the event of ghost riding, resulting in broken bones, crushed organs, more seriously head trauma, and even fatality. Not all police departments are aware of ghost riding, but the ones that are, have begun training other officers to be alert and look for this activity specifically.Ghost riding carry levels of consequences that vary from state to state. Drivers can receive citations, fines, and punishment for ghost riding and at times, the outcomes can be very harsh. In California, CVC 23103 and CVC 23104 states that a person is prohibited from operation of a vehicle with known disregard for the safety of themselves, other people, or property that result in bodily harm or damage to property. A violation of this code can result in a fine from $220 to $1,000 and/or imprisonment from 90 days to six months with a two-point violation. Drivers can also face the consequence of losing their licenses. It is all fun while in the process of ghost riding, however, attention and education can teach drivers, especially teenage drivers, the importance of the gift of life.