Rank: Forum user 
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What is everyones thoughts on drivers wearing earphones/listening to Ipods while driving?
The Law is clear around mobile phones etc..
Mobile phones and in-vehicle technologyRule 149You MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times. You MUST NOT use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, when driving or when supervising a learner driver, except to call 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop. Never use a hand-held microphone when driving. Using hands-free equipment is also likely to distract your attention from the road. It is far safer not to use any telephone while you are driving or riding - find a safe place to stop first or use the voicemail facility and listen to messages later. Laws RTA 1988 sects 2 & 3, & CUR regs 104 & 110 Rule 150There is a danger of driver distraction being caused by in-vehicle systems such as satellite navigation systems, congestion warning systems, PCs, multi-media, etc. You MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times. Do not rely on driver assistance systems such as cruise control or lane departure warnings. They are available to assist but you should not reduce your concentration levels. Do not be distracted by maps or screen-based information (such as navigation or vehicle management systems) while driving or riding. If necessary find a safe place to stop. Laws RTA 1988 sects 2 & 3, & CUR reg 104
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I don't like the idea of people having earphones on while driving. If the Ipod can be linked to the car radio by bluetooth or aux lead then I would say the rule is to set it up when parked, stationary with the handbrake on and engine off (same rule as mobile phones) and then don't touch it until you are parked again.
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Rank: Forum user
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I see so many drivers with earphones in, I would find driving without the 'normal' noises you hear while driving a little odd. it must be distracting.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I replied to a similar post not so long ago with link to video of the lorry driver's in-cab surveillance showing him selecting tracks on his i-pod as he ploughed into a stationary queue killing at least 2 innocents.
Also, can't here horns or sirens.
If this is work driving, then prohibit the practice.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Forum user
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From RAC website:
There is no specific law per se that says it is illegal to drive while wearing headphones. But it is highly unadvisable and could in fact come under such driving offences as driving without due care and attention and careless driving, should a police officer deem it so. Listening to very loud music through headphones could be very distracting and it could render you unable to hear traffic warnings or even ambulance sirens.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The 'might be distracted' argument is possibly valid, but no-one seems to get agitated over motorists having the radio playing, or music playing over speakers, so I'm not sure that headphones is so very different. I feel sure there are plenty of cases of accidents caused by twidlling with radio knobs and other in-car gadgetry, and fact it's gadgety with headphones seems irrelevant to me. So, it's possibly valid, but no more valid than the same complaint made about anything else that's not a driving control (radio, satnav, any sort of music player, handsfree phone, whatever). The 'can't hear sirens' argument is much less credible, in my view, given that we don't have minimum hearing levels for car drivers - you can legally be a (private car) driver and be utterly deaf.
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Rank: Forum user
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Originally Posted by: achrn  The 'can't hear sirens' argument is much less credible, in my view, given that we don't have minimum hearing levels for car drivers - you can legally be a (private car) driver and be utterly deaf.
Interesting point!
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Rank: Forum user
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Having recently been run director at a local 10k running event whereby, under UKA rules, we were told to disqualify runners who wore earphones due to not being able to hear marshalls or traffic (both vehicles and pedestrians) i find it odd that there is no guidance regarding the wearing of headphones whilst driving.
I know that UKA rules are not law and a pevious poster makes a very valid point regarding deaf drivers.
Personally i would find it irritating to wear headphones while driving.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I would be over the moon if car drivers just did what they were supposed to be doing - drive the car. A sizeable proportion of them seem to struggle with just doing this, without introducing anything else to distract them.
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 1 user thanked biker1 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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And if you look across the Channel in France the wearing of headphones (paricularly associated with mobile phones) is banned including dedicated BlueTooth head sets - they only just allow in car systems with BlueTooth capability IF we only had more traffic officers...(G4S or similar policing this kind of behaviour paid on succesful prosecution there would be less careless and more likely licence less drivers) Did have a dismissal case - FLT driver wearing cordless BlueTooth headphones under ear protection, and their supervisor on final written for allowing the driver to disguise bad driving practice by permitting unecessary PPE wearing
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Rank: Super forum user
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And if you look across the Channel in France the wearing of headphones (paricularly associated with mobile phones) is banned including dedicated BlueTooth head sets - they only just allow in car systems with BlueTooth capability IF we only had more traffic officers...(G4S or similar policing this kind of behaviour paid on succesful prosecution there would be less careless and more likely licence less drivers) Did have a dismissal case - FLT driver wearing cordless BlueTooth headphones under ear protection, and their supervisor on final written for allowing the driver to disguise bad driving practice by permitting unecessary PPE wearing
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