Headphones while driving a car?? Why oh why??

[Pin-seeker]

That is just showing your age Havent heard Scatman John in about 15 year - used to love him - but still would not put him on my headphones

Everybody stutters one way or the other
So check out my message to you
As a matter of fact, I don't let nothin' hold you back
If the Scatman can do it, so can you

Get it on,you know you want to :whoo:

 

[Region3]

Surely to prosecute someone the person has to be driving in a way that causes danger to other users of the road - you can't just prosecute someone for wearing headphones.

To prosecute someone the person has to be doing something illegal. Right now wearing headphones isn't, so you won't, unless you're driving along fiddling with your phone, which is.

Personally I'm against using headphones whilst driving, but I also have to say if you haven't seen flashing blue lights in your mirror well before the ambulance is 50yds - or even 200yds - behind you, then you are not paying attention.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Wouldn't the argument be (and I'm summising) that it's a case of driving without due care and attention. I can't see too many coppers trying their arm but there's always one. Whether it ever gets to court though....Personally I'd like to see those trying to have a sandwich, drink and trying to drive with the merest touch of a hand on the wheel and using their knees (think we've all seen them) penalised but never a copper when you need it. Can you really be that hungry that you can't wait until you get to your destination. If so, pull over

 

[garyinderry]

To prosecute someone the person has to be doing something illegal. Right now wearing headphones isn't, so you won't, unless you're driving along fiddling with your phone, which is.

Personally I'm against using headphones whilst driving, but I also have to say if you haven't seen flashing blue lights in your mirror well before the ambulance is 50yds - or even 200yds - behind you, then you are not paying attention.

An ambulance doesn't have to drive straight up behind you. It can come round a corner and be up your behind in seconds. You greatly reduce your chances of hearing that with headphones in.

This really isn't that difficult.

Yes loud music is quite similar but plugging your ears with sound is straight forward wrong and on a sliding scale to how loud it is, dangerous.

Never mind a siren. There are many other things such as other cars, dogs, and children that we need to listen out for.

I am guilty as others will be of playing music too loudly. It is something we should all think about.

 

[Smiffy]

Serious question as not a Biker,
Doesn't a helmet, padded, squashed against your ears or the ones with ear buds hinder your hearing while riding?

Nope. First thing I always did before I put my crash helmet on was put foam earplugs in. Most bikers I know do this.
Cuts down on the mechanical noise for a start, and helps you concentrate more.
As a biker, you are using your eyesight, (and road sense), a lot more than when you are driving a car.
Many's the time I have arrived home after a long(ish) drive in the car and I couldn't actually remember driving through a particular village or something else, because I have been subconsciously driving on "Autopilot". It happens to most of us now and again.
You can never ride a motorbike like that. You are using your eyes a lot more, scanning everything around you. It's difficult to explain, but to a good motorcyclist it becomes second nature.
In a car, I am subconsciously concentrating on the car in front of me.
On a motorbike I am actively concentrating on the car 3 or 4 in front of that one, trying to anticipate what "might" happen, scanning junctions and side roads 200 yards further on, that sort of thing.

 

[Baldy Bouncer]

So your stereo was out of action & a emergency service vehicle had to pass you

And then this thread was started oo:
SPOOKY.

Quality:thup:

LP`s like that annoying work colleague who, no matter what story you tell, he has done it as well, only bigger/better, faster etc etc.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Nope. First thing I always did before I put my crash helmet on was put foam earplugs in. Most bikers I know do this.
Cuts down on the mechanical noise for a start, and helps you concentrate more.
As a biker, you are using your eyesight, (and road sense), a lot more than when you are driving a car.
Many's the time I have arrived home after a long(ish) drive in the car and I couldn't actually remember driving through a particular village or something else, because I have been subconsciously driving on "Autopilot". It happens to most of us now and again.
You can never ride a motorbike like that. You are using your eyes a lot more, scanning everything around you. It's difficult to explain, but to a good motorcyclist it becomes second nature.
In a car, I am subconsciously concentrating on the car in front of me.
On a motorbike I am actively concentrating on the car 3 or 4 in front of that one, trying to anticipate what "might" happen, scanning junctions and side roads 200 yards further on, that sort of thing.

So the answer to my question is yes? as not only is the helmet covering your ears but you also block them with foam earplugs and with the noise it seems your hearing is just about non-existant, although as you say all your other senses are heightened as you need to be 100% focussed, and imo, are in general, far better drivers.

 

[Imurg]

On a motorbike I am actively concentrating on the car 3 or 4 in front of that one, trying to anticipate what "might" happen, scanning junctions and side roads 200 yards further on, that sort of thing.

To be fair, this is what ALL drivers/riders ought to be doing.
Unfortunately it seems a significant number appear to be completely oblivious to much of what is going on around them.
I need to be totally on the ball all the time to spot the potential problem, calculate the angles, give the learner a chance to react and, if necessary, do it myself.
Being so observant I get to see the multitude that aren't....

 

[Rooter]

Serious question as not a Biker,
Doesn't a helmet, padded, squashed against your ears or the ones with ear buds hinder your hearing while riding?

I used to wear earplugs. But to be fair, i dont think anything ever overtook me so all hazards were in front of me.

 

[chrisd]

To be fair, this is what ALL drivers/riders ought to be doing.
Unfortunately it seems a significant number appear to be completely oblivious to much of what is going on around them.
I need to be totally on the ball all the time to spot the potential problem, calculate the angles, give the learner a chance to react and, if necessary, do it myself.
Being so observant I get to see the multitude that aren't....

I'd love to observe 3 to 4 cars ahead but I'm usually stuck behind some jerk who's rammed in, just in front of me, in a big white van!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Quality:thup:

LP`s like that annoying work colleague who, no matter what story you tell, he has done it as well, only bigger/better, faster etc etc.

I have noticed something about you - when you post on a thread you don't actually post about the subject you mainly post to have a dig or have a go at a poster. You offer nothing so you should get on well with the Barnsley fan

 

[Deleted member 15344]

To be fair, this is what ALL drivers/riders ought to be doing.
Unfortunately it seems a significant number appear to be completely oblivious to much of what is going on around them.
I need to be totally on the ball all the time to spot the potential problem, calculate the angles, give the learner a chance to react and, if necessary, do it myself.
Being so observant I get to see the multitude that aren't....

Exactly this - listening to low level music doesn't stop me concentrating 100% on the road and everything that is going on around -

 

[Pin-seeker]

I have noticed something about you - when you post on a thread you don't actually post about the subject you mainly post to have a dig or have a go at a poster. You offer nothing so you should get on well with the Barnsley fan

Wow that's a first,the Massive Liverpool fan having a pop without Liverbirdie getting the ball rolling first.
I'm impressed.

 

[Smiffy]

I have noticed something about you - when you post on a thread you don't actually post about the subject you mainly post to have a dig or have a go at a poster.

To be fair Phil, he had been warned about picking it up too early at other times.
Plus, he was walking towards his mate and not just walking off.
Cut him some slack

 

[Deleted member 15344]

To be fair Phil, he had been warned about picking it up too early at other times.
Plus, he was walking towards his mate and not just walking off.
Cut him some slack

.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I have noticed something about you - when you post on a thread you don't actually post about the subject you mainly post to have a dig or have a go at a poster. You offer nothing so you should get on well with the Barnsley fan

Ha Ha, "and if by magic the shopkeeper appeared", 4 minutes to a response, great fishing Phil :thup:

 

[Pin-seeker]

Ha Ha, "and if by magic the shopkeeper appeared", 4 minutes to a response, great fishing Phil :thup:

Brilliant contribution to the thread.

 

[the smiling assassin]

not just driving, cycling and walking. the number of times a pedestrian wearing earphones has walked straight out into the road in front of me without looking, when i've been on my bike or driving the car...

a few weeks ago on my bike behind two others on a cycle path, i rung my bell to signal overtake only for the guy two ahead to swing across the path to the right, then sharply swerve down a side path on the left without any hand signal. thanks to his headphones, he was completely oblivious to our shouts - the fact the guy directly behind him nearly collided with him and me into the guy between us. on top of the near miss, which was bad enough, i got a puncture whilst taking avoiding action - braked/skidded over a pot hole. gutted.

people who wear ear plugs on the move are a menace to themselves and those around them - it is in my opinion, extremely self centred behaviour. however, we are all guilty of self centred behaviour in some form or another - it's part of being a 21st century human being. whether we would feel as complacent and high and mighty about our actions if they caused an accident that took the life of, or seriously injured another...i doubt it. is it worth it. definitely not. so use your brain. and don't do it. only dead fish go with the flow, wake up and swim against the tide. you might save life. it might even be your own.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I suggest that a few people on here should enrol themselves onto an advanced driving course, I think they might learn a LOT!

 

[Rooter]

I suggest that a few people on here should enrol themselves onto an advanced driving course, I think they might learn a LOT!

Or spend some time on a motorbike. I will argue that motorcyclists are among the safest car drivers.