Motorists wearing headphones while driving

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

I've recently begun to notice a trend of people wearing headphones in their ears while driving about the town I live in. I think its probably only since I've started walking to work that I've copped on to this. Is this not incredibly dangerous?? I know it probably amounts to the same thing as having your radio up very loud but in my opinion it reduces spatial awareness on busy roads with lots of pedestrians and other motorists. I know some of these may be in place of bluetooth kits for their phones but its too many just to be that alone.

Am I being over the top? Do you drive with headphones in?

colm_mcm

Could it maybe be a single earpiece (phone)

Supergurrier

I have seen this alot too, its mainly those stupid beats headphones.

Idiots who wear them to be seen wearing them, dumb idea tbh.

CiniO

Just out of curiosity how is it incredibly dangerous?

Supergurrier

CiniO wrote: »

Just out of curiosity how is it incredibly dangerous?

It's dangerous because unlike having the sound on a radio up really high the headphones by design have a sound cancelling/dampening effect for anything not coming through the headphones.

So yes they are dangerous

Seamus1964

You may not hear the sirens of emergency vehicles, or the warning honks of other motorists.

So yes they are dangerous

colm_mcm

CiniO wrote: »

Just out of curiosity how is it incredibly dangerous?

Not being able to hear what's going on around you, not being able to hear noises your car would be making etc.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

No odds i think

A car radio can have the same affect if turned up loud enough and it just means everyone else can hear it too.

also are ya suggesting deaf people shouldnt drive ?

i've no problem with deaf people driving, maybe they look out a bit more ?

In regards to emergency vehicles coming from behind i've always spotted them miles back in the mirrors before hearing them and when i move out of the way other people around me scratch their heads at what im doing until the emergency vehicle gets closer and blares the noise.

Supergurrier

Shurre i can smell danger myself.

I drive blindfolded most of the time.

_Kaiser_

Came across one of these in a beat-up 00 3 series on the M8 a while back - was doing about 90 km/h in the outside lane and when he finally copped on to the queue behind him and moved over, there he was with his white iPhone headphones on. :rolleyes: :mad:

colm_mcm

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

No odds i think

A car radio can have the same affect if turned up loud enough and it just means everyone else can hear it too.

also are ya suggesting deaf people shouldnt drive ?

i've no problem with deaf people driving, maybe they look out a bit more ?

In regards to emergency vehicles coming from behind i've always spotted them miles back in the mirrors before hearing them and when i move out of the way other people around me scratch their heads at what im doing until the emergency vehicle gets closer and blares the noise.

Ah, think about it. If you're listening to music at home at a level that you can hear it, you can still have a conversation or if someone says something to you you'll hear them. When I have headphones on ill miss everything going on around me, and that's not with them blaring.

Supergurrier

Sound cancelling !

_Kaiser_

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

No odds i think

A car radio can have the same affect if turned up loud enough and it just means everyone else can hear it too.

also are ya suggesting deaf people shouldnt drive ?

i've no problem with deaf people driving, maybe they look out a bit more ?

In regards to emergency vehicles coming from behind i've always spotted them miles back in the mirrors before hearing them and when i move out of the way other people around me scratch their heads at what im doing until the emergency vehicle gets closer and blares the noise.

Deaf people (I'm assuming) adjust to their circumstances by being more aware in other ways - as you say by checking their mirrors more often or being more observant

Not so the eejit with his earphones in sitting in his own little world.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

colm_mcm wrote: »

Ah, think about it. If you're listening to music at home at a level that you can hear it, you can still have a conversation or if someone says something to you you'll hear them. When I have headphones on ill miss everything going on around me, and that's not with them blaring.

Definitely agree, but how i mean is that if your car radio is turned up loud enough it can have the same effect as the headphones,

and i sometimes throw one earphone in for my handsfree kit while driving but im constantly looking around like anytime im always looking everywhere.

but if it were up to me i'd ban earphones and headphones while driving and also a cap on music levels in cars so its not too loud

challengemaster

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

In regards to emergency vehicles coming from behind i've always spotted them miles back in the mirrors before hearing them and when i move out of the way other people around me scratch their heads at what im doing until the emergency vehicle gets closer and blares the noise.

Emergency vehicles don't always come from behind, or where they're easily visible. Hence why they alternate the siren when coming to a crossroads/intersection.

CiniO

colm_mcm wrote: »

Not being able to hear what's going on around you, not being able to hear noises your car would be making etc.

Are deaf people allowed to drive?

Jesus.

deccurley wrote: »

Is this not incredibly dangerous??

Drama Queen alert.......

kaahooters

People using iphone earphones as replacements for Bluetooth headsets as there a mic with them, same with the beats.

So, your complaining that there being ,somewhat, safer and answering there phones "hands free"?

Yes I'm aware that you should t answer the phone at all, but, people are stupid and will do it anyway, atlesst with the headphones / mic here hands are free to actually drive.

colm_mcm

CiniO wrote: »

Are deaf people allowed to drive?

Yes they are.

The holder of a certificate from a Registered Medical Practitioner stating that it is inadvisable on medical grounds to wear a safety belt doesn't have to wear a seat belt.

Not ideal but what can you do?

Where someone has the choice of being able to hear what's going on or not, would they not be better off hearing?

CJhaughey

I would hazard a guess that in the event of an accident a headphone wearing user could be prosecuted or found liable for not driving with due care and attention.

_Kaiser_

CJhaughey wrote: »

I would hazard a guess that in the event of an accident a headphone wearing user could be prosecuted or found liable for not driving with due care and attention.

You'd have to prove that though which unless you had witnesses would be extremely difficult I'd imagine.

kaahooters wrote:

People using iphone earphones as replacements for Bluetooth headsets as there a mic with them, same with the beats.

So, your complaining that there being ,somewhat, safer and answering there phones "hands free"?

Yes I'm aware that you should t answer the phone at all, but, people are stupid and will do it anyway, atlesst with the headphones / mic here hands are free to actually drive.

I very much doubt that the people I've seen driving around with earphones in are waiting on a call personally. If they want to take calls they should invest in a proper Hands free kit like a Parrot system.. or even one of those Bluetooth speakers (which are cheaper again and actually quite effective as I use one in the car myself at the moment pending the retrofit of the OEM kit)