Wearing headphones while riding | GTAMotorcycle.com

Wearing headphones while riding

I do it every now and then, but I'm not sure if it would a apply to motorcycles. I also wear ear plugs more often than headphones, but it'd be interesting to see what others say.
 
Whether it's legal or not isn't the issue ... it's just a very smart thing to do. It's a distraction to your 100% concentration as to what's going on around you. Riding is risky enough. Why would you want to add to that risk factor by choosing to be distracted. It may not be a visual distraction like a cell phone or a gps unit but it's a distraction none the less.
 
Green Meenie said:
Whether it's legal or not isn't the issue ... it's just a very smart thing to do. It's a distraction to your 100% concentration as to what's going on around you. Riding is risky enough. Why would you want to add to that risk factor by choosing to be distracted. It may not be a visual distraction like a cell phone or a gps unit but it's a distraction none the less.
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Seriously?? The motorcycle is loud enough to be considered a hazard in itself if you want to put it your way. Listening to some tunes over the constant pitch of the engine isnt going to harm anyones attention. I dont even know how the cellphone laws even made it into law, that just sets the precedent to call anything of the sort (car radio, car lcd, passengers) a distraction and grounds for a ticket. Soon we are going to have a law to friggen breath at this rate...
 
Green Meenie said:
Whether it's legal or not isn't the issue ... it's just a very smart thing to do. It's a distraction to your 100% concentration as to what's going on around you. Riding is risky enough. Why would you want to add to that risk factor by choosing to be distracted. It may not be a visual distraction like a cell phone or a gps unit but it's a distraction none the less.
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Actually, in this sub-forum, whether or not it's legal is the only real consideration. Other such questions can be taken up in the General forum.
 
You are correct and as far as I know, legality of listening devices has not been specifically targeted as a driving distraction yet so these devices are therefore still perfectly legal. Distracted driving laws have been getting some serious focus the past year or so though and I wonder just how far all that will go in future with legislators. May eventually boil down to how big a cash-cow the distracted driving laws become. If the influx of cash from charges under the current legislation becomes large enough, distracted driving laws could be expanded to include many things I suppose. I would prefer it be left to personal choice but I doubt that will be the case, or even a consideration with legislators.

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Green Meenie said:
You are correct and as far as I know, legality of listening devices has not been specifically targeted as a driving distraction yet so these devices are therefore still perfectly legal. Distracted driving laws have been getting some serious focus the past year or so though and I wonder just how far all that will go in future with legislators. May eventually boil down to how big a cash-cow the distracted driving laws become. If the influx of cash from charges under the current legislation becomes large enough, distracted driving laws could be expanded to include many things I suppose. I would prefer it be left to personal choice but I doubt that will be the case, or even a consideration with legislators.
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Proscribing the use of headphones, while operating a vehicle, was in the original submission for the electronic device use ban that was recently passed. It didn't survive, to end up in the final version that was passed.
 
It is not illegal.... I've been pulled over before had them wait patiently while I pulled out my plugs and they never mentioned them once.

As long as you are still aware of your surroundings and they don't impact your riding ability - cord in your way or volume prevents hearing an ambulance etc... then I dont see how its an issue.
 
Cat13 said:
It is not illegal.... I've been pulled over before had them wait patiently while I pulled out my plugs and they never mentioned them once.

As long as you are still aware of your surroundings and they don't impact your riding ability - cord in your way or volume prevents hearing an ambulance etc... then I dont see how its an issue.
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Same ^
 
As long as they arent too loud they make little to no difference in terms of awareness. Particularly at highway speeds.
 
Depends when you use them i guess. In the city no way , out on a long stretch of hwy in the middle of nowhere? sure
Green Meenie said:
Whether it's legal or not isn't the issue ... it's just a very smart thing to do. It's a distraction to your 100% concentration as to what's going on around you. Riding is risky enough. Why would you want to add to that risk factor by choosing to be distracted. It may not be a visual distraction like a cell phone or a gps unit but it's a distraction none the less.
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In my case, using an iPhone, how would they determine if I am using my head-phones for music or as a hands free set for making calls. Not that I take calls while riding, but haven't the law-makers stated in the distracted driving legislation that hands-free sets are ok? Wouldn't the banning of headphones contradict the distracted driving laws?
 
thedude said:
In my case, using an iPhone, how would they determine if I am using my head-phones for music or as a hands free set for making calls. Not that I take calls while riding, but haven't the law-makers stated in the distracted driving legislation that hands-free sets are ok? Wouldn't the banning of headphones contradict the distracted driving laws?
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Yes and no. Where they have banned the use of headphones, the same legislation has generally disallowed having an earphone in BOTH ears. Things like phone headsets only occupy ONE ear. Presumably, in such jurisdictions, you would be fine if you left out one side of the headphones.
 
cbr125looksfun said:
I dont even know how the cellphone laws even made it into law
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You're kidding right?

Using a cell phone while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)
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I was pulled over once while I was wearing headphones. (the headphones wasn't why I was pulled over)

By the time the officers walked up to the bike I had just removed my helmet and I popped out of ear-buds.

One of the officers made a comment about not being able to hear anything with the headphones in and I calmly reminded her the music is no louder than the wind.

No more talk about the headphones after that.
 
Rob MacLennan said:
Yes and no. Where they have banned the use of headphones, the same legislation has generally disallowed having an earphone in BOTH ears. Things like phone headsets only occupy ONE ear. Presumably, in such jurisdictions, you would be fine if you left out one side of the headphones.
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Good to know, I only ride with one in anyways, thanks
 
I wear ear buds all the time while on my motorcycle and have never had any difficulty hearing traffic around me, or noises from the engine for that matter. I recently picked up a full-function wireless controller for my i-Pod, which allows me to stop play in order to hear what my riding buddies are saying when we stop for traffic signals. Once under way I punch the play button on the waterproof wrist controller and the tunes resume.

As far as legality issues are concerned, I had always been told that it is not necessary for a driver to be able to hear in order to operate a motor vehicle. Accordingly, wearing ear buds that merely restrict your hearing should not be illegal.
 
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