# Driving your car with earbud/headphones on **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362 "2015-04-10T19:26:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/21 "2015-04-11T02:29:30Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I’m surprised to find out this isn’t against the law everywhere. Period. > > I understand that deaf people can get a license. However, the number of deaf people on the road must be a fraction of a percent; people wearing headphones (earbuds) are blocking their ability to hear a horn, siren, etc, and that, in turn, could cause them to miss a chance to avoid an accident. Are they, necessarily? As an experiment, I just now put in a pair of earbuds and snapped my fingers, which I could hear clearly. So the earbuds themselves don’t block sound all that well: it’s the sound that’s coming through the earbuds that’s the problem. And I don’t know for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it would be easier to hear a horn or siren over moderate-volume speech played through earbuds than over loud music played through the speakers in a well-insulated vehicle. And anyway, I can’t remember the last time I needed to hear anything going on outside my car while driving on the highway. If an emergency vehicle has its lights going, I’d probably see it before I heard it on a long flat stretch of interstate. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/22 "2015-04-11T17:11:56Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I personally don’t wear earbuds while driving; nor do I text. And I only use a cell phone if I have hands-free capability. If I don’t have hands-free capability and need to make a call, I pull off the road, find a parking lot, put the car in park and make the call. Despite the love affair state legislatures have had with hands-free devices, the research generally shows they’re not any safer. I suspect there’s something similar going on with the level of outrage here at driving with earbuds or headphones. Driving around with a phone in your hand just seems wrong but talking through a hands-free device doesn’t. Listening to music through headphones or earbuds seems wrong but the long-enshrined practice of listening to music or talk radio through the car stereo doesn’t, even though in practice (barring some serious noise-isolating headphones or buds) there’s pretty much no difference. Of course it also helps that both in the case of hands-free cell phones and car stereos you can’t really tell if someone’s doing it or not. Maybe it’s just that we realize we can’t legislate distracted driving away, but at least we can legislate away the forms of it where we can _see_ just how freakin’ distracted most drivers are! ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/23 "2015-04-11T17:15:05Z")
I have very decent, lightweight, open-back headphones that don’t block outside noise. I have very occasionally worn them while listening to voice recordings (book on tape or podcasts) when I’m making short drives and don’t want to stop the recording, disconnect the headphones, connect an aux cable, and restart it – it’s only a few seconds, but I’ve worn out several headphone jacks on phones over the years, so I try to minimize it. I believe it’s illegal to drive with both ears covered in my area, though, so I minimize my usage and leave one ear uncovered. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/24 "2015-04-11T17:19:39Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s against the law here, so no. Same here. It’s also against the law for cyclists to wear earbuds, but many of them still do it. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/25 "2015-04-11T17:27:33Z")
I do it. All the time. It’s legal here. I’ve never had any trouble at all not being aware of my surroundings. I hear sirens, horns, and all that just fine. I’m listening to spoken word stuff, not loud music. My car stereo does have an aux in jack, but I can hear much more clearly with the earbuds. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/26 "2015-04-11T17:32:09Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > I have very decent, lightweight, open-back headphones that don’t block outside noise. I have very occasionally worn them while listening to voice recordings (book on tape or podcasts) when I’m making short drives and don’t want to stop the recording, disconnect the headphones, connect an aux cable, and restart it – it’s only a few seconds, but I’ve worn out several headphone jacks on phones over the years, so I try to minimize it. > > I believe it’s illegal to drive with both ears covered in my area, though, so I minimize my usage and leave one ear uncovered. When the Sony Walkman was new, I remember it being a selling point that the mostly foam headphones didn’t block outside sounds. When I got my first one someone could sneak up behind me while I was listening and whisper and I could still hear it. (People seemed to think it would be a hoot to make fun of me for not hearing them when I was listening to music. They were invariably surprised when I could still hear.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/27 "2015-04-11T17:32:26Z")
Driving is a full time job and requires your full attention, primarily because other people are NOT paying attention. Anything that distracts you from the task of propelling a couple tons of vehicle safely along its route reduces the chances of you making it to your destination without ruining somebody’s day or life. The trend toward treating one’s vehicle like an entertainment center is a bad idea, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/28 "2015-04-11T23:24:28Z")
I was under the impression that it’s illegal. Even if it’s not, I don’t see the appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/29 "2015-04-11T23:57:20Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I was under the impression that it’s illegal. Even if it’s not, I don’t see the appeal. You mean you don’t see the appeal of listening to something through headphones/earbuds specifically? I think there are two main reasons: (1) You don’t have a way of listening to what you want to listen to without earbuds (i.e. through car speakers), or (2) You want to listen to something without inflicting it on your passengers. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/30 "2015-04-12T01:36:35Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > You mean you don’t see the appeal of listening to something through headphones/earbuds specifically? I think there are two main reasons: > (1) You don’t have a way of listening to what you want to listen to without earbuds (i.e. through car speakers), or > (2) You want to listen to something without inflicting it on your passengers. While in the car. And screw passengers, listening to the driver’s choice is the price you pay to save on gas and the aggravation of driving yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/31 "2015-04-12T02:01:56Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > Like someone above said, Deaf people drive. What’s the difference? Well, the difference is the vast majority of drivers aren’t deaf. Paraplegics can drive too with special hand controls, which means they never have two hands on the wheel. But it’s a risk we allow because: [ul] [li]It’s not a huge risk[/li][li]It only effects a small percentage of drivers[/li][li]The huge benefit to them outweighs the small added risks to others[/li][/ul] Same is all true for the deaf. But driving is still a more dangerous activity than people are ever willing to realize, so we try to minimize it. Personally it’s a no-brainer to me that you never drive wearing headphones. Even ignoring the risk to others, it’s too big a risk to myself (I never forget how dangerous driving always is)… ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/32 "2015-04-12T03:00:03Z")
I use a bluetooth headset with two earphones but I only ever have one in. I listen to podcasts and I believe it is perfectly safe as I can hear just fine. I do note from the list above that it illegal in my state but i am not going to stop. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/33 "2015-04-12T06:00:30Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Driving is a full time job and requires your full attention, primarily because other people are NOT paying attention. Anything that distracts you from the task of propelling a couple tons of vehicle safely along its route reduces the chances of you making it to your destination without ruining somebody’s day or life. The trend toward treating one’s vehicle like an entertainment center is a bad idea, IMO. What if music is conducive to your attentive driving? IIRC, one of the biggest problems, bigger than hearing or even drunk drivers, is drivers who are barely awake. Ideally they should not be driving; realistically they probably have to. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/34 "2015-04-12T13:47:01Z")
I don’t wear earbuds at all, but if I did, I wouldn’t while driving, as it’s illegal in Minnesota. Then again, most of the drivers here seem to ignore all the other cars on the road anyway, so I don’t see how it would hurt. It’s not like anybody pulls over when they hear sirens, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/35 "2015-04-12T14:02:05Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > What if music is conducive to your attentive driving? IIRC, one of the biggest problems, bigger than hearing or even drunk drivers, is drivers who are barely awake. Ideally they should not be driving; realistically they probably have to. Yeah, I get that, and used music/singing as a way to stay awake when I was younger, had limited vacation time, and was trying to pile on the miles every day. Now I just make frequent rest area stops. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/36 "2015-04-13T03:20:11Z")
So I suppose you would really be against driving with ear buds while eating a donut and balancing a cup of coffee while weaving in and out of traffic? Because that just takes all the fun out of it. I can’t just sit there, I would get bored fall asleep and kill a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/37 "2015-04-13T10:57:11Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Driving is a full time job and requires your full attention, primarily because other people are NOT paying attention. Anything that distracts you from the task of propelling a couple tons of vehicle safely along its route reduces the chances of you making it to your destination without ruining somebody’s day or life. The trend toward treating one’s vehicle like an entertainment center is a bad idea, IMO. So I presume that you have never availed yourself of your in-car radio, then? If I’m wrong, please explain why music entering your ears after traveling through a few feet of air is less distracting than music entering your ears directly, because I note that your argument is about distraction, not lack of ability to hear clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/38 "2015-04-13T13:49:21Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > So I presume that you have never availed yourself of your in-car radio, then? If I’m wrong, please explain why music entering your ears after traveling through a few feet of air is less distracting than music entering your ears directly, because I note that your argument is about distraction, not lack of ability to hear clearly. You presume incorrectly, and apparently missed my follow-on post. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/39 "2015-04-13T15:28:09Z")
I don’t see anywhere where you’ve explained why radios are less distracting than earbuds. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362/40 "2015-04-13T15:38:22Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I don’t see anywhere where you’ve explained why radios are less distracting than earbuds. Or, say, casual conversation with passengers. Or kids (or pets) in the back being kids (or pets). Or GPS voice directions. Or sipping a cup of coffee. There’s lots of things that people regularly do in cars that distract them from the task at hand, and a lot of them we don’t bat an eye at. As stated upthread, some of the things that we’ve declared socially unacceptable don’t necessarily agree with the data. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-your-car-with-earbud-headphones-on/717362.md?page=3)