Do you ever drive with headphones on?

[DMickey28]

I always thought that was against the law.

 

[honugirl]

It's against the law here in Washington. I remember it from driver's ed a zillion years ago. And no, I never do. I get annoyed with my bluetooth when I have to wear it going to Seattle. I do see a lot of people on the road with them in though, drives me nuts!

 

[soupy11]

If my profoundly deaf students can get driver's licenses (and they can), I fail to see how it can be dangerous for a hearing person to drive while wearing headphones.

I always thought that deaf drivers utilized some neat tools to aid them in driving, things like flashers to alert of loud sirens, more panoramic mirrors, etc...

 

[rowbear]

If my profoundly deaf students can get driver's licenses (and they can), I fail to see how it can be dangerous for a hearing person to drive while wearing headphones.

Is that really the same? I mean wouldn't a deaf person be more aware and compensate whereas a person wearing headphones may not realize they are deaf to the noises outside the car.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I do it. But only when there is another person with me, who is not sleeping.

and I keep it low, as mentioned above, and I can hear the tire noise, engine noise etc... certainly another car horn or sirens.

Mikeeee

 

[merryweather20]

If my profoundly deaf students can get driver's licenses (and they can), I fail to see how it can be dangerous for a hearing person to drive while wearing headphones.

I agree with rowbear. I don't think thats the same. A deaf person would be more attuned to picking up on things, such as an emergency vehicle with their other senses.

The sirens are on the ambulances and fire trucks for a reason though. The vast majority of the population need the audio cues though and shouldn't be wearing head phones.

 

[MineMail]

In Florida, it is against the law to drive (or even ride a bicycle) with headphones or earbuds in both ears. One ear is okay, but both will gain you a ticket, because it's very dangerous to cut yourself off from the outside world while driving. I can understand turning the stereo up very loud, but I can't understand putting headphones or earbuds on.

It's the same law here - one earphone/earbud only.

Instead of the usual one-ear headset, my headset has two earbuds because the phone can also function as an mp3 player. I have used both to listen to music, but not while driving. If I'm driving, I just use one and tuck the other into the collar of my shirt.

 

[Towncrier]

It is (or at least it was) against the law in Ohio. I have a friend who has a moving violation to prove it.

I was surprised that he was ticketed because the only additional equipment required for hearing impaired drivers in Ohio is to have outside rearview mirrors on both the passenger and driver side of the vehicle.

I think that one could argue that noise cancelling headphones might actually make it easier for someone to hear sirens as they would cancel road and wind noise. Regardless, I would not recommend wearing headphones if you are driving in Ohio.

 

[Free4Life11]

I would prefer the streaming video, but only if broadband gets faster and cheaper. I mean the max I can get is 6 mbps. My professor told us that many Asian countries can get something like 1000 mbps for about $20 a month!

I just hate clutter and DVD's to me are clutter, so I prefer to stream things.

 

[KSchwagg86]

omg SO DANGEROUS

 

[Becky2005]

In Illinois it is against the law and when caught they don't go easy on you !!!

At least I'm not totally crazy!

My first thought when I read this was "that's against the law" (not that it really makes a difference but...) so I really haven't seen it around here. One of those things that I guess was drilled into my head because I wouldn't even consider doing it. Apparently, most people around where I drive follow that law.

 

[Macca1111]

I always thought that was against the law.

That's what I thought too...but I guess not everywhere. I just went to look it up and was reminded that it's discouraged on the ski slopes, so you don't injure anyone. Just found it is illegal here too...only in reference tho to the cell phone bill they were trying to pass. It is illegal here to operate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones and constitutes a class B traffic violation.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I have one of these in my car

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/ica-in-car-usb-and-made-for-ipod/cdx-gt630ui

plays my ipod through the radio and charges it as well, on a long journey an audio book is better than music as most of them are at least 8 hours long.