Drivers who use headphones

Ally Dick

This gets me very annoyed. I'd say it's completely against the law. Why are people so stupid when it comes to driving ?

Gongoozler

Why does it annoy you?

As a driver, do you think you should know whether or not it's actually illegal?

Mena

You'd say? Well this is a binary matter, so is it or isn't it?

Doesn't bother me at all, very little difference to blasting the radio or just being clueless like half the gob****es on the road.

Cathalog

Mena wrote: »

You'd say? Well this is a binary matter, so is it or isn't it?

Doesn't bother me at all, very little difference to blasting the radio or just being clueless like half the gob****es on the road.

Ehh no, there's a massive difference actually. Most headphones isolate the audio and prevent ambient sound from getting to your ears.

Blasting the radio just masks the ambient sound a bit - but you can still hear it.

Turtyturd

Do women who put on their make up while driving next...or men who shave.

The Diabolical Monocle

Cathalog wrote: »

Ehh no, there's a massive difference actually. Most headphones isolate the audio and prevent ambient sound from getting to your ears.

Blasting the radio just masks the ambient sound a bit - but you can still hear it.

not really massive though is it ?

crank up the devildriver and you're not going to hear much more than if you have phones in.

callaway92

I hate when I see it too.

I can't imagine having them on while driving. You'd 100% not be able to hear anything on the road.

Very dangerous.

parkerpen

A driver is in charge of a potentially lethal weapon. Having earphones in while driving is irresponsible and downright dangerous. Don't start me on the number of people (mostly women, I'm sorry to say) I have seen recently talking, at length, on mobile phones while driving. One lady I happened to be behind for several kilometres last week, in busy roads and she spoke on the phone the entire time. I took her number but wonder if there is any point? She weaved in and out of lanes. By blood is still boiling.

coopdog85

Headphones are extremely dangerous to use while driving. The user is completely unaware of their surroundings, I used them once while driving on a longish journey & swore I'd never do it again.

expectationlost

Ally Dick wrote: »

This gets me very annoyed. I'd say it's completely against the law. Why are people so stupid when it comes to driving ?

you are joking! somebody actually does that?

DareGod

Mena wrote: »

You'd say? Well this is a binary matter, so is it or isn't it?

Doesn't bother me at all, very little difference to blasting the radio or just being clueless like half the gob****es on the road.

Yeah they shouldn't be doing that either, what's your point?

DareGod

Ally Dick wrote: »

This gets me very annoyed. I'd say it's completely against the law. Why are people so stupid when it comes to driving ?

Some cyclists do it too.

A form of natural selection?

Aard

There's also an implication that a person wearing earphones while driving is periodically using their phone to change songs.

Wearing earphones isn't illegal, while operating a mobile phone, even at red lights, is.

michael999999

If you were to drive the roads of south Kerry, you would regularly see Danny Healy Rae driving he's jeep. While wearing a pair of builders ear muffs, holding the Nokia phone to he's ear!

Mena

DareGod wrote: »

Yeah they shouldn't be doing that either, what's your point?

That there's really little difference. Was it that unclear?

Amirani

DareGod wrote: »

Some cyclists do it too.

A form of natural selection?

Unless you have specific noise cancelling headphones on, then you'll still be able to hear everything while cycling.

Should deaf people or people with hearing impairment not be able to cycle or drive?

Ally Dick

expectationlost wrote: »

you are joking! somebody actually does that?

I see it EVERY DAY

NomadicGray

Get the deaf ones off the road too!!

pablo128

Maybe, just maybe, they use the earphones to use their phone....... hands free? You know, like you're supposed to?

No_Comply

coopdog85 wrote: »

Headphones are extremely dangerous to use while driving. The user is completely unaware of their surroundings, I used them once while driving on a longish journey & swore I'd never do it again.

You do know you weren't contractually obliged or anything to wear them for the duration of your trip?

emigrate2012

Ffs,so deaf drivers are irresponsible ?!?!
Cop on,really cop the fcuk on. Its about observation and awareness,if you can't take care of that while you're driving down the road gtf off the road.
Only situation its valid in is if the horn is needed, (flash your lights if no response....)
It's not an Issue.

The Backwards Man

Headphones annoy me full stop. If you have to wear them, then you have to get a new taste in music.

pablo128

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Headphones annoy me full stop. If you have to wear them, then you have to get a new taste in music.

God be with the days when it was acceptable to lug a ghetto blaster around on your shoulder!:pac:

visual

emigrate2012 wrote: »

Ffs,so deaf drivers are irresponsible ?!?!
Cop on,really cop the fcuk on. Its about observation and awareness,if you can't take care of that while you're driving down the road gtf off the road.
Only situation its valid in is if the horn is needed, (flash your lights if no response....)
It's not an Issue.

You really haven't thought this through have you. But it would explain why so many drivers leave it to last min to put over to let ambulance pass.

Want to be in your own personal bubble stay in bed.

Mena

visual wrote: »

You really haven't thought this through have you. But it would explain why so many drivers leave it to last min to put over to let ambulance pass.

Want to be in your own personal bubble stay in bed.

You rely on auditory queues to react to emergency vehicles? Sorry but that's piss poor driving. If you were doing correct observation there would be no way in hell anything could sneak up on you. Hearing is simply not required.

zanador

I would imagine deaf people are used to relying on other senses whereas someone with headphones isnt necessarily

expectationlost

Ally Dick wrote: »

I see it EVERY DAY

Dre has to be stopped!

Amirani

zanador wrote: »

I would imagine deaf people are used to relying on other senses whereas someone with headphones isnt necessarily

Difficult to legislate for. What if someone only turned deaf last week? Should there be a minimum period that you need to be deaf for before you're allowed drive?

Since its not illegal to drive while deaf or with headphones, it has obviously been determined that aural awareness isn't a complete necessity when driving.

Massimo Cassagrande

Mena wrote: »

You rely on auditory queues to react to emergency vehicles? Sorry but that's piss poor driving. If you were doing correct observation there would be no way in hell anything could sneak up on you. Hearing is simply not required.

What about sneaky tigers? And good luck using observation to hear graunchy noises from something mechanical about to shat itself..headphones on while driving is just daft, simple as. If you're cycling with them on, that's borderline death-wish.

spurious

pablo128 wrote: »

God be with the days when it was acceptable to lug a ghetto blaster around on your shoulder!:pac:

God be with the days when drivers concentrated on driving.

dmc17

Diego Simeone wrote: »

Difficult to legislate for. What if someone only turned deaf last week? Should there be a minimum period that you need to be deaf for before you're allowed drive?

Since its not illegal to drive while deaf or with headphones, it has obviously been determined that aural awareness isn't a complete necessity when driving.

It has also been determined that a small bit of cop on is necessary when driving. Anyone who wears headphones when driving, ironically enough looks like an idiot.

kupus

A lot of driving related threads recently, I wonder what the angle is?

Aongus Von Bismarck

Everytime I return to Ireland I'm absolutely shocked at the behaviour of some of the drivers on the road. Driving in the overtaking lane of the motorway, forgetting to use their indicators to quelle surprise indicate where they intend to send their dangerous rustbucket, running lights that have gone orange, giving me the 'one fingered salute' for having the utter temerity to rent a BMW at the airport and then obeying the rules of the road.

Therefore examples of people wearing headphones while driving doesn't surprise me.

kfallon

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Everytime I return to Ireland I'm absolutely shocked at the behaviour of some of the drivers on the road. Driving in the overtaking lane of the motorway, forgetting to use their indicators to quelle surprise indicate where they intend to send their dangerous rustbucket, running lights that have gone orange, giving me the 'one fingered salute' for having the utter temerity to rent a BMW at the airport and then obeying the rules of the road.

Therefore examples of people wearing headphones while driving doesn't surprise me.

What has that go to do with the price of fish?

Or are you like this guy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOlbOZ9w84I

smurgen

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Everytime I return to Ireland I'm absolutely shocked at the behaviour of some of the drivers on the road. Driving in the overtaking lane of the motorway, forgetting to use their indicators to quelle surprise indicate where they intend to send their dangerous rustbucket, running lights that have gone orange, giving me the 'one fingered salute' for having the utter temerity to rent a BMW at the airport and then obeying the rules of the road.

Therefore examples of people wearing headphones while driving doesn't surprise me.

If you find all the irish so predictably thick I wonder why you bother communicating with us so much?

To address the op I drive with headphones in on my short journey to work.dont find them massively debilitating or reducing my awareness.i stick on shuffle and off I go.however I get onto a motorway for ten minutes and straight off and I'm in work.it's a straight line. I wouldn't drive in built up areas or windy roads with em in.

Tar.Aldarion

Deaf people can drive and cycle, if you are relying any way on sound to do so then you are not driving/cycling safely anyway.

emigrate2012

visual wrote: »

You really haven't thought this through have you. But it would explain why so many drivers leave it to last min to put over to let ambulance pass.

Want to be in your own personal bubble stay in bed.

Well,considering I cycle approx. 200k a week on very busy roads WITH headphones in(the horror!!) I'd reckon I have a very good idea of the risks,I hear every vehicle,that and the fact that,ye know,I look around,perform lifesavers (is,looking over the shoulder) have awareness of my road positioning etc I know what I'm on about.

Dangerous use of the road is what causes problems, not headphones. As I said,if your not visually aware all the time,year really should just take the bus.

Red Alert

What's the point of using them rather than plugging / bluetooth'ing into the car's sound system????

Cantona's Collars

Red Alert wrote: »

What's the point of using them rather than plugging / bluetooth'ing into the car's sound system????

Some people don't realise you can do that,I know one woman who drives a car like mine,it has blue tooth built in yet she constantly has a phone to her ear while driving.
Another pet hate are drivers who hold the phone to their chin on loudspeaker and believe that it's some form of hands free system.

wil

emigrate2012 wrote: »

Well,considering I cycle approx. 200k a week on very busy roads WITH headphones in(the horror!!) I'd reckon I have a very good idea of the risks,I hear every vehicle,that and the fact that,ye know,I look around,perform lifesavers (is,looking over the shoulder) have awareness of my road positioning etc I know what I'm on about.

Dangerous use of the road is what causes problems, not headphones. As I said,if your not visually aware all the time,year really should just take the bus.

While you may be an experienced cyclist with a well honed sense of safety, a large proportion of cyclists could do with the extra input from any auditory signals to keep them alive. When I've worn them, it feels like wearing blinkers as around town your ears add to the 360 degree awareness. I've encountered many cyclists with headphones completely oblivious of anything around them.

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

Deaf people can drive and cycle, if you are relying any way on sound to do so then you are not driving/cycling safely anyway.

People blind in one eye can do likewise, doesn't make it easier. Not all cues are visual, hence the horn, indicators, engine noise, tyre noise, etc. you don't rely on them but they certainly improve your awareness of what's going on. Ignoring a warning sound because you couldn't hear it above headphones isn't clever.
And how else you going to hear your phone ringing

visual

Mena wrote: »

You rely on auditory queues to react to emergency vehicles? Sorry but that's piss poor driving. If you were doing correct observation there would be no way in hell anything could sneak up on you. Hearing is simply not required.

Oh yes your superman can see through lorries and around corners.

Should be intelligence test before handing out licences.

Bet you didn't sit your driving test listening to your Iphone through headphones

Cathalog

Aard wrote: »

There's also an implication that a person wearing earphones while driving is periodically using their phone to change songs.

Wearing earphones isn't illegal, while operating a mobile phone, even at red lights, is.

Actually, that is not true. You are allowed to operate a mobile phone in the car (believe it or not), provided you:

a) are not holding it
b) are not using it for SMS.

Pretty sure SMS is defined as any sort of text-based communication including WhatsApp etc.


I have my phone in the holder on journeys and use it for GPS and occasionally change songs.

dashcamdanny

It's stupid. For stupid people.

Same for cyclists who thinks they are protected by experience.

I cycle quite a lot, and don't use earbuds because I regard myself as having average to above average intelligence.

Mena

visual wrote: »

Oh yes your superman can see through lorries and around corners.

Should be intelligence test before handing out licences.

Bet you didn't sit your driving test listening to your Iphone through headphones

I seem to have hit a nerve. No shame admitting you're clueless behind the wheel, plenty of courses out there you can take.

visual

Mena wrote: »

I seem to have hit a nerve. No shame admitting you're clueless behind the wheel, plenty of courses out there you can take.

Answer the question did you sit driving test listening to iPhone on headset ?

I would guess you didn't as you would know the tester would fail you.

I also guess you would quickly remove the ear buds if involved in accident.

But as your superman guess it not matter, you'll never have an accident with lighting quick reflexes and superior obervesion skills backed up with x-ray vision

_Brian

I would sometimes listen to an audiobook via my phone. But I only use one earbud, using two would definitely drown out other sounds.

arybvtcw0eolkf

I use my headphones so I can operate my phone hands free.

When I ride my motorbike I can't because the noise in the helmet drowns out just about everything. In fact on a long time I often use ear plugs to protect my hearing.

Headphones in the car aren't dangerous, well no more than falling off a high horse is dangerous.

Capt'n Midnight

pablo128 wrote: »

God be with the days when it was acceptable to lug a ghetto blaster around on your shoulder!:pac:

Fun times, but it made parallel parking interesting.

Pinch Flat

But yet driving (and cycling) while deaf is perfectly legal.

I see it all the time - I'm assuming a lot of drivers use them to take calls? Listening to music blaring through headphones or through the car stereo is not going to differ much.

I see it a lot with cyclists - I cycle in and out of dublin daily and wouldn't do it, that's not to say I haven't done it before. I prefer to use all my available senses - hearing can sometimes determine engine tone / type / proximity. Again it's perfectly legal to cycle with headphones in (or over) the ears. It gets a lot of drivers excited, but then again I've passed many a mobile night club in traffic.

danger_mouse_tm

I use headphones quite regularly when driving up the motorway in my articulated truck. The reason I do is simple. The radios in our trucks suck. I would have no problem fitting my own premium audio system but since i get a different truck every day, that's not going to happen. There's also a driver's door seal gone on one of the trucks and the wind noise is deafening. As far as blocking out ambient noise, I generally can't hear too much with a thermo king fridge roaring from the trailer behind me. I would be more observant than most drivers especially with my mirrors as I have to make sure there isn't a tyre after smoking up on me. In built up areas or once traffic starts getting heavy, The headphones are gone. In fact, I wouldn't even listen to the radio. I honestly don't think I could safely drive a 60 foot lorry down drumcondra road and listen to a talk show at the same time.

Tony Beetroot

Its the sunglasses with car and cyclists that are the danger, who need to wear sun glasses when the moon is rising is beyond me.