Listening to Ipod while driving??
Discussion
I have just started a new job with a shockingly slow and boring commute and I've decided that music is the only food for getting over the pain of my drive to work. I have been using my Ipod with in-ear headphones and pootling along happily in the traffic. I have found that my ability to hear things on the road is a little compromised - for example ambulances cutting through the traffic on 999 calls - however I am always looking in my mirrors and have good spatial awareness so I always see the ambulance without the need to hear it.
My question is however are drivers allowed to have in-ear headphones blasting music into their heads to the point when they can't hear emergency service vehicles and the like? Is it a case of letting drivers rely on their other senses or should they be able to hear the ambulance coming along behind them?
I have always wondered whether in a situation where not being able to hear properly whilst driving, you could be pulled up by the BiB for an infringement.
Is there a law on in-ear headphones and should I be ready for a pull by the BiB if they spot me singing away?
My question is however are drivers allowed to have in-ear headphones blasting music into their heads to the point when they can't hear emergency service vehicles and the like? Is it a case of letting drivers rely on their other senses or should they be able to hear the ambulance coming along behind them?
I have always wondered whether in a situation where not being able to hear properly whilst driving, you could be pulled up by the BiB for an infringement.
Is there a law on in-ear headphones and should I be ready for a pull by the BiB if they spot me singing away?
v15ben said:
I have just started a new job with a shockingly slow and boring commute and I've decided that music is the only food for getting over the pain of my drive to work. I have been using my Ipod with in-ear headphones and pootling along happily in the traffic. I have found that my ability to hear things on the road is a little compromised - for example ambulances cutting through the traffic on 999 calls - however I am always looking in my mirrors and have good spatial awareness so I always see the ambulance without the need to hear it.
My question is however are drivers allowed to have in-ear headphones blasting music into their heads to the point when they can't hear emergency service vehicles and the like? Is it a case of letting drivers rely on their other senses or should they be able to hear the ambulance coming along behind them?
I have always wondered whether in a situation where not being able to hear properly whilst driving, you could be pulled up by the BiB for an infringement.
Is there a law on in-ear headphones and should I be ready for a pull by the BiB if they spot me singing away?
My question is however are drivers allowed to have in-ear headphones blasting music into their heads to the point when they can't hear emergency service vehicles and the like? Is it a case of letting drivers rely on their other senses or should they be able to hear the ambulance coming along behind them?
I have always wondered whether in a situation where not being able to hear properly whilst driving, you could be pulled up by the BiB for an infringement.
Is there a law on in-ear headphones and should I be ready for a pull by the BiB if they spot me singing away?
wearing in ear headsets to listen to the music is breaking the law, not sure which one, but if you cant hear other road users, surely you might have suspected there was something wrong ?
get a radio or an ipod attachemtn for the radio
you might see an ambulance, but maybe not the car that hits you after sounding their horns, that u cant of course hear, elsewhere on the net, u shouyld use ipods for 30 mins max, unless you are trying to be deaf by the time ur 40 years old, in which case keep it at high volume for a few hours each day
I don't know about the legalities of it, but I suspect from your post you're already aware that the reduced hearing capability may not be the best idea for driving. And considering people have been stopped/fined in the past for biting into an apple/taking a drink (one known case where the woman was stationary at red traffic lights FFS!), might not a new stereo with ipod or mp3 input be a better idea?
Just my 2p - must try to find one compatible with my Sony/Ericsson walkman phone...
Evidently beaten to it!
Just my 2p - must try to find one compatible with my Sony/Ericsson walkman phone...
Evidently beaten to it!
Edited by mr2aw11 on Thursday 27th July 10:51
There's a depressing theme to threads like this which seems to be an assumption that everything is illegal unless specifically permitted by 'The Authorities'. Thats the concept of some European state's legal system. Any move towards making our Nanny State the same should be vigourously resisted by thinking people.
There is no law that prohibits listening to radios in any vehicle and the wearing of an earphone, earphone(s) or headphones. Similarly there is no law that prohibits wearing of crash helmets ( whose padding attenuates sound) either on bikes or in cars. Ear defenders ( some are ear defenders with a built in radio ) are recommended to be used by drivers of noisy vehicles such as Tractors and mobile cranes. I use Peltor intercomm headsets on road sections on a rally legally.
There is no law that prohibits listening to radios in any vehicle and the wearing of an earphone, earphone(s) or headphones. Similarly there is no law that prohibits wearing of crash helmets ( whose padding attenuates sound) either on bikes or in cars. Ear defenders ( some are ear defenders with a built in radio ) are recommended to be used by drivers of noisy vehicles such as Tractors and mobile cranes. I use Peltor intercomm headsets on road sections on a rally legally.
Not an assumption at all mate. I just didn't want to find myself sat in the car, Ipod blasting away with a BiB tapping on the window and writing a nice ticket for me to deal with. I am going to get the radio connector for the Ipod anyway purely for the better sound quality, but tbh I don't think I will stop listening with the in-ear headphones for the drive home tonight!
v15ben said:
As I suspected. I have found a nifty gadget that plays your Ipod tracks through an empty radio station. Plugs into the fag lighter and costs significantly less than the daft money the car manufacturers charge for an Ipod input.
Is said nifty gadget on the net, and do you know if it would work with MP3, or is it just ipod? Cheers.
mr2aw11 said:
v15ben said:
As I suspected. I have found a nifty gadget that plays your Ipod tracks through an empty radio station. Plugs into the fag lighter and costs significantly less than the daft money the car manufacturers charge for an Ipod input.
Is said nifty gadget on the net, and do you know if it would work with MP3, or is it just ipod? Cheers.
Amusingly, while it may or may not be illegal to wear headphones while driving, it *is* illegal to use these devices....
v15ben said:
As I suspected. I have found a nifty gadget that plays your Ipod tracks through an empty radio station. Plugs into the fag lighter and costs significantly less than the daft money the car manufacturers charge for an Ipod input.
I've got one, they are totally and utterly rubbish in every way possible. Think of a way they might be good, then think of what could stop it being good, then think of everything you can't think of, then double it. You're halfway towards how rubbish they are.
The gadget you refer to is an FM transmitter the size of a book of matches. It plugs into the docking port of your IPOD and transmits the IPOD music on one of three selectable preset frequencies which you tune your FM radio to receive.
They cost about $50 from the States and can be purchased off Apples IPOD website. Having just returned from the States with one I can confirm that they are competitively priced in the Apple Store and readily available over there in shops like Virgin and general Hi-Fi/Computer stores.
[url] http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE [/url]
The bad news is, they are illegal in the UK AT THE PRESENT TIME. You are required to obtain a licence like radion Hams do. That's why no-one sells them in the UK.
BUT I have heard that the law relating to these transmitters are under review and they may become legal soon.
I would imagine their transmission radius is not great and therefore being banned is a bit heavy for what interference they'd cause to FM users like the Blue Light Services etc.
They cost about $50 from the States and can be purchased off Apples IPOD website. Having just returned from the States with one I can confirm that they are competitively priced in the Apple Store and readily available over there in shops like Virgin and general Hi-Fi/Computer stores.
[url] http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE [/url]
The bad news is, they are illegal in the UK AT THE PRESENT TIME. You are required to obtain a licence like radion Hams do. That's why no-one sells them in the UK.
BUT I have heard that the law relating to these transmitters are under review and they may become legal soon.
I would imagine their transmission radius is not great and therefore being banned is a bit heavy for what interference they'd cause to FM users like the Blue Light Services etc.
Edited by xmg5 on Thursday 27th July 11:56
trooperiziz said:
I've got one, they are totally and utterly rubbish in every way possible. Think of a way they might be good, then think of what could stop it being good, then think of everything you can't think of, then double it. You're halfway towards how rubbish they are.
And if you live anywhere near a city you'll struggle to find a free radio station
I've just got a JVC stereo (can't remember which one, sorry) for £130 with a jack for an MP3 player/Ipod on the front, and one on the rear and for which you can get an Ipod controller
You don't need to go spending money on Ipod adapters and the like.
Most stereos (including manufacturers ones on half decent cars) have a separte line in for CD multiplayer control. Simply make up a lead to go from headphone socket on MP3 player to double "interconnect" or phono. Find the right volume setting for the input (probably quite low) and use the amplifier in the head unit to control volume, MP3 to select tracks etc.
If your factory stereo doesn't have a line in, a replacement unit will only cost IRO £70. A local old TV repair shop or the like will make up a lead for you for about £10-15 I should think.
Most stereos (including manufacturers ones on half decent cars) have a separte line in for CD multiplayer control. Simply make up a lead to go from headphone socket on MP3 player to double "interconnect" or phono. Find the right volume setting for the input (probably quite low) and use the amplifier in the head unit to control volume, MP3 to select tracks etc.
If your factory stereo doesn't have a line in, a replacement unit will only cost IRO £70. A local old TV repair shop or the like will make up a lead for you for about £10-15 I should think.
Indeed the radio item is illegal in the UK at the moment, but so is most of the illegally downloaded music I play on the Ipod so hey ho
I doubt it'll be brilliant for a fiver or however much they are on ebay at the moment, but it at least saves listening to in-ear music whilst driving.
Stubby Pete, the mods you describe sound very interesting. I'll have to get to my local audio shop and see what they can fix up
I doubt it'll be brilliant for a fiver or however much they are on ebay at the moment, but it at least saves listening to in-ear music whilst driving.
Stubby Pete, the mods you describe sound very interesting. I'll have to get to my local audio shop and see what they can fix up
I have been known to have in-ear headphones on when driving the Westfield. To a certain extent they are used as ear plugs, but sometimes may have music too.
Is this really illegal? I keep the sound down so I can hear sirens, etc, but the car is loud enough, having the exhaust on the drivers side, to make actual "other car" sounds almost impossible to hear.
Is this really illegal? I keep the sound down so I can hear sirens, etc, but the car is loud enough, having the exhaust on the drivers side, to make actual "other car" sounds almost impossible to hear.
trooperiziz said:
v15ben said:
As I suspected. I have found a nifty gadget that plays your Ipod tracks through an empty radio station. Plugs into the fag lighter and costs significantly less than the daft money the car manufacturers charge for an Ipod input.
I've got one, they are totally and utterly rubbish in every way possible. Think of a way they might be good, then think of what could stop it being good, then think of everything you can't think of, then double it. You're halfway towards how rubbish they are.
I've got a Belkin one, got it in the US Bloody excellent device, the only thing is you have to keep monitoring the frequency. Sit it next to the radio with the volume down - the volume seems to affect how far the signal travels - and Bob's your DJ!
Fats25 said:
Why would they be illegal?
Because you need a license to transmit FM radio signals.
Edited by mutley on Thursday 27th July 13:19
Edited by mutley on Thursday 27th July 13:21
mutley said:
Utter Tosh! I've got a Belkin one, got it in the US Bloody excellent device, the only thing is you have to keep monitoring the frequency. Sit it next to the radio with the volume down - the volume seems to affect how far the signal travels - and Bob's your DJ!
I've got a Belkin one too. When you do find a free frequency, it'll only be free for the next 100 yards before it gets drowned out by the next commercial station. Add that to the constantly varying volume and sound quality much much worse than a bog standard tape adaptor and I stand by my statement.
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