Picture the scene…
A student driver and I are out on a driving lesson today, and arrive at the stop line leading on to a traffic-light controlled roundabout. While waiting for the traffic lights to change, I took a look in my interior mirror as is usual in such situations, to see a car approaching us quite rapidly from the rear.
When said car finally stopped (note: I am just pleased that it did indeed stop to be honest!), I took a second look and on this occasion happened to noticed that the driver was mouthing the words of a song she appeared to be listening to.
Nothing unusual there I hear you say; we’re all guilty of having a bit of a sing-song while driving, eh?!
However, it was only then that I noticed that said driver was actually doing so while wearing full over-ear headphones!?
This got me thinking…
My initial thought was, “That’s unusual..!”, this was then followed by “wearing headphones while driving will almost certainly diminish her ability to hear important external road noise, while also causing an unhealthy distraction; at least driving with music being played into the car by way of the vehicle audio system still allows a certain amount of outside background noise to be heard.” For example, what would happen if the driver was unaware of an approaching emergency vehicle with its sirens sounding?
Ultimately, I personally would not feel safe nor comfortable driving whilst wearing headphones.
This then got me thinking thus further.
Question: “Is it wrong to wear headphones while driving given that there is no law to say that a profoundly deaf person can not drive a car or motorcycle?!”
Interesting I thought; however I could not put my thoughts on the subject to rest!
My next thought was, “What would the law make of someone driving while wearing headphones/earphones, as to the best of my knowledge there is no current law specifically banning the use of headphones/earphones while driving?”.
Could doing so, given a certain circumstance, fall under the Road Traffic Act offence of not being in full control of a vehicle? If so, could it be proven that the drivers control was impaired?
What if the driver was involved in a road traffic collision? Would this then fall under the banner of dangerous driving?
An interesting topic of discussion that’s for sure!
It certainly provides a thought provoking discussion for my students.
What are your thoughts on the story? Do you have an opinion on the matter?
If so, I would be interested to hear them. Please feel free to leave me your thoughts in the comments box.
As always – stay safe out there good people!
Chris
http://www.chrischambers-som.com
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