Headphones Legal To Wear While Driving?

[waterninja]

Having a little discussion about this right now. Is it legal to wear headphones while you are driving a vehicle? I'm not talking about a bluetooth "bud" in one ear, but actual bluetooth headphones (or even regular stereo headphones). I might as well add safety sound suppression head phones as well. I'm talking about driving a vehicle on streets and hwy's, not machinery on a job site.
Thanks.

[reddeerguy2015]

Is it illegal for a deaf person to drive ?

Whats the difference ?

[brslk]

No it's not legal but I've never seen or heard of it being enforced.

It should be especially illegal for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Almost all of them are wearing headphones of some sort while
walking or biking.
I can't even begin to tell you how many people I've almost ran over every
day that weren't paying attention and were just bopping along listening
to tunes.
That and pedestrians staring at their smart phones.

[ETOWNCANUCK]

no different from being in a car with a nagging wife....at least you would get to choose what you wan to hear.

[Viking Caliber]

Originally Posted by reddeerguy2015

Is it illegal for a deaf person to drive ?

Whats the difference ?

Big difference, depending on the level of which the person is deaf.
One level hearing aid assist

another level (my mom) 100% stone cold deaf, drives like a normal person. you would never know she was deaf. driving the last 68 years. now must have a medical check annually to keep driving.

I work with a deaf person who drives.

Driving while deaf is not illegal. just more hoops to jump through

Regarding driving with head phones is illegal which is covered under the distracted driving regs.

[couleefolk]

So what about just wearing ear plugs because your vehicle is noisy? I know the workplace likes folks to wear ear plugs over a certain decibel, so what if you drive an old VW diesel that has more road and engine noise than a motorcycle? You are not really distracted by listening to something else. On the other hand, if your motorcycle is to loud around here, the cops don't want to hear you coming and have your presence known.

[Ebrand]

Not an offence in Alberta.

Completely legal.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by ETOWNCANUCK

no different from being in a car with a nagging wife....at least you would get to choose what you wan to hear.

Beat me to it..... first thing I envisioned.

[hayseed]

Do on my bike all day long.

Don't ride without tunes.

[kmacisaac]

I've never really understood the driving with head phones deal. Even the most economical vehicles these days come with one of those fancy radio thing-a-ma jigs. I've often wondered why so many solo drivers seem to have ear buds in and like mentioned above, not blue tooth or hands free phone set ups.

[dewalt18]

Originally Posted by hayseed

Do on my bike all day long.

Don't ride without tunes.

I'm right there too. If I'm riding more than about a 5 minute trip, buds go in and tunes are on. And I'd wager good hard money that while I'm riding, I'm way more aware of my surroundings than any of the four wheel idiots that are out the trying to kill me.

I've been pulled over by CPS in the past, and not a word was said, even though they watched me pull out the ear buds.

[Talking moose]

If anything, it should be illegal for pedestrians. Ever see someone walking with headphones on and looking at his phone? Blind and deaf.

[couleefolk]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

If anything, it should be illegal for pedestrians. Ever see someone walking with headphones on and looking at his phone? Blind and deaf.

We had a high school girl get killed crossing the highway, earbuds in, looking at her phone, and her friend claims she was yelling at the clueless victim to lookout. Nothing better than to leave this world with your friend witnessing your death because your phone is more important than paying attention and walking into traffic. I'm sure the friend will see that scenario in her mind for the rest of her life.

[JB_AOL]

It should be illegal.. But it is not.

(I'm just not sure I understand why people do it with a perfectly good stereo in the car)

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by JB_AOL

(I'm just not sure I understand why people do it with a perfectly good stereo in the car)

I think it's to block out the car's road noise. Music sounds better with the earbuds. Plus some find the buds work better for things like Siri and phone conversations.

I'm not a fan of it (I use my car's Bluetooth, even though it's kind of frustrating at times - frankly, I don't like to use my phone in the car that much), but I'll take that over having people hold their phones up in front of themselves like they're eating a slice of pizza.

In fact, I thought I had the idea of the "next big thing" - I was going to make phone cases molded in a pizza shape, so those drivers don't have to feel so self-conscious.

Turns out someone already beat me to it.

[wags]

I'm on the fence with this one, but when I see someone in a vehicle wearing them, I wonder how well they can hear emergency vehicles?

Cheers

[270person]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Music sounds better with the earbuds.[/IMG]

Not even close if you have a decent stereo installed.

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by brslk

No it's not legal but I've never seen or heard of it being enforced.

It is legal to drive and listing to music on a portable device.

From: http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...teddriving.htm

Activities that are not specifically restricted under the law are:

Listening to a portable audio player – as long as it is set up before you begin driving

[Okotokian]

Think about the guys with the giant speakers pounding out base you can hear from a block away. Think they can hear anything outside the car? Theoretically, I do think drivers, bikers, etc. should be able to hear what is going on around them, hear a honking horn, etc. In practice, not so sure it can be enforced. Personally, I have thought about headphones. I like my music loud, but I don't think my dog does.

I was bike on a pathway the other day. Came up behind a guy walking. Rang my bell and said "on the left". Got up close and saw the ear buds. Rang the bell and repeated five feet away from him. Nothing. He started to wander into my path. Finally had to yell right behind him and startle him back into a straight line.

[wags]

Originally Posted by Jeron Kahyar

It is legal to drive and listing to music on a portable device.

From: http://www.transportation.alberta.ca...teddriving.htm

That's not what the thread is about. It's about wearing earbuds. But off your same link:

Activities that are not specifically restricted under the law are:

using a cell phone in hands-free mode – the device is not held in the driver’s hand and is activated by voice or a single touch to the device
using an earphone – if it is used in a hands-free or voice-activated manner

I would interpret this to mean that wearing earbuds as illegal, but I could see how this could be interpreted in several ways.

Cheers

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by wags

That's not what the thread is about. It's about wearing earbuds.

I guess I used listening to a portable music device to imply the use of ear buds or headphones. Perhaps not the case as you stated (never thought of the Bluetooth playing through radio ones).

Originally Posted by wags

But off your same link:

I would interpret this to mean that wearing earbuds as illegal, but I could see how this could be interpreted in several ways.

Cheers

I read it that the use of an earphone is not restricted and therefore legal. This is providing it is used hands free and set up before you begin driving.

Personally I will just use the radio and avoid testing the waters on my interpretation of the law. I'm no expert and could be completely off base. Interesting to look into these from time to time and see how ambiguous the written law can be in some cases.

[whiteout]

Originally Posted by brslk

No it's not legal but I've never seen or heard of it being enforced.

It should be especially illegal for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Almost all of them are wearing headphones of some sort while
walking or biking.
I can't even begin to tell you how many people I've almost ran over every
day that weren't paying attention and were just bopping along listening
to tunes.
That and pedestrians staring at their smart phones.

Care to reference the section that makes it illegal?

[wags]

Originally Posted by Jeron Kahyar

I guess I used listening to a portable music device to imply the use of ear buds or headphones. Perhaps not the case as you stated (never thought of the Bluetooth playing through radio ones).




I read it that the use of an earphone is not restricted and therefore legal. This is providing it is used hands free and set up before you begin driving.

Personally I will just use the radio and avoid testing the waters on my interpretation of the law. I'm no expert and could be completely off base. Interesting to look into these from time to time and see how ambiguous the written law can be in some cases.

Many portable music devices also have speakers, not requiring ear buds.

Where I saw it illegal is that you still need voice control or hands free. So I see your point, if you hit play on your device, then don't touch it again, it should be legal.

But I agree with you, I use the radio and bluetooth to play my music. Lawyers can argue the 'between the lines' stuff.

Cheers

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by whiteout

Care to reference the section that makes it illegal?

Check post #20

[whiteout]

Originally Posted by Jeron Kahyar

Check post #20

The post that says using an earphone is not specifically restricted under the law?

[Jeron Kahyar]

Originally Posted by whiteout

The post that says using an earphone is not specifically restricted under the law?

Then post number #22 for further explanation of his interpretation.