Driving with earphones in, acceptable or not?

[baccalad]

I've seen a fair few people doing this recently, mostly taxi drivers.

[Toaster Pilot]

Can't see it's much worse than a loud radio

[deadslow]

WOT?

[photosnob]

https://www.gov.uk/deafness-and-driving

Given the above link I think they would be hard pressed to prosecute someone for driving with earphones in if they tried to use careless driving as the excuse.

However it's not the brightest idea - hearing is a good thing.

With taxi drivers it's probably just linked to their phones. They might not want customers hearing or being annoyed by their conversations.

[singlecoil]

I think it's ok for me to do it (and I do, sometimes) but I don't think other people should.

[Sensibleboy]

If you want to look a bit stupid then do it.

[regprentice]

One earphone in looks like a handsfree and leaves the other ear free. Seems to be the default setting for taxi drivers now. Typically in your left ear so less visible to plod.

Two in must surely be dangerous.

Ive been tempted when carting a car full of kids the full length of the m6 but never actually have.

[kambites]

As long at they're open backed, they're no different to using the speakers.

[jmorgan]

Some of my drives make more noise than a set of earphones. Besides, I have a note saying I can.

[Magic919]

I tend to put my hood up to hide mine.

[Shurv]

Magic919 said:

I tend to put my hood up to hide mine.

So, no hearing and no peripheral vision either. Let's hope I never have to share a section of road with you my friend.

[jmorgan]

Shurv said:

So, no hearing and no peripheral vision either. Let's hope I never have to share a section of road with you my friend.

Other people wear hoods.

Anyway, balaclava's are better. Police keep chasing me though.

[northwest monkey]

jmorgan said:

Shurv said:

So, no hearing and no peripheral vision either. Let's hope I never have to share a section of road with you my friend.

Other people wear hoods.

Anyway, balaclava's are better. Police keep chasing me though.

I often wear a burka and have the same problem.

[The Nur]

I find that the headphones plus the tinted windscreen is a bit much so now I only have one headphone in.

[northwest monkey]

The Nur said:

I find that the headphones plus the tinted windscreen is a bit much so now I only have one headphone in.

As long as you don't wear dark sunglasses you'll be fine. I read it on the internet.

[The Nur]

northwest monkey said:

As long as you don't wear dark sunglasses you'll be fine. I read it on the internet.

You'll never get me out of my fake wayfarers with neon frames.

[northwest monkey]

The Nur said:

northwest monkey said:

As long as you don't wear dark sunglasses you'll be fine. I read it on the internet.

You'll never get me out of my fake wayfarers with neon frames.

Smooth.

[Mr2Mike]

I wear earplugs, riggers gloves, welly boots and a welding mask to try to eliminate as much valuable information from my car and surroundings as possible. What you don't know can't hurt you, right?

[DoctorX]

northwest monkey said:

Smooth.

I always think of those things which chase you in PacMan when I see something like this.

[Shurv]

I stopped at some motorway services on Thursday and saw a woman in a full burka holding a coffee she'd just bought from a vending machine. How's she going to drink that then, filtered?