Driving with headphones?

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PhantomNVD

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#146590 22-May-2014 19:15

Waf=7-8
Traffic officer = ??

FYI I often have an audiobook I'd like to hear in the car, and have a long shared commute... but also have a 2 and 5 yr old who shouldn't really hear it (violence etc.)

Thoughts?

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#1051281 22-May-2014 19:19

I would not recommend wearing headphones while driving, people walking with headphones on are not aware of their surroundings.
I don't understand cyclists that do it either as they can't hear if a car is coming behind them etc so I would not recommend them for driving, will you hear that police car or ambulance wanting to get past or your kids in the back if they need something sorted out.

That's my opinion anyway.

If your not the driver then no problem.

Peppery

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#1051283 22-May-2014 19:19

I wouldn't do it.

josephhinvest

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#1051285 22-May-2014 19:22

I also don't think you should while driving. Even if you can hear well enough, listening to spoken word, if you were involved in an accident I think it would absolutely work against you.

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Joseph

PhantomNVD

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#1051286 22-May-2014 19:23

Ok, so far others disagree with my reasoning (driver) but anyone know the legal difference between a Bluetooth earpiece/ super up stereo and earphones LEGALLY?

Sideface

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#1051301 22-May-2014 19:37

PhantomNVD: Waf=7-8
Traffic officer = ??

FYI I often have an audiobook I'd like to hear in the car, and have a long shared commute... but also have a 2 and 5 yr old who shouldn't really hear it (violence etc.)

Thoughts?

Do you have a death wish?

Sideface

vexxxboy

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#1051302 22-May-2014 19:39

there is no law in NZ that says driving while wearing headphones is illegal, it's just not recommended.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

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Lyderies

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#1051304 22-May-2014 19:43

Thought they were spelled 'headphones'?

I'm going to noob myself past judgement

PhantomNVD

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#1051306 22-May-2014 19:45

Sideface:
PhantomNVD: Waf=7-8
Traffic officer = ??

FYI I often have an audiobook I'd like to hear in the car, and have a long shared commute... but also have a 2 and 5 yr old who shouldn't really hear it (violence etc.)

Thoughts?

Do you have a death wish?

Nope, just like entertainment my kids can't share...

Do all deaf people have a death wish too?

Seriously though, arguments around loss of focus might have a standpoint, but that's the same argument against entertaining radio talkback shows really? :)

PhantomNVD

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#1051308 22-May-2014 19:46

Lyderies: Thought they were spelled 'headphones'?

Correct, typo on iPhone ( though not while driving!)

PhantomNVD

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#1051309 22-May-2014 19:47

vexxxboy: there is no law in NZ that says driving while wearing headphones is illegal, it's just not recommended.

Thanks for a clear, unemotional response!

mattwnz

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#1051324 22-May-2014 19:58

A few days this was discussed on TV when they were talking about people using mobiles when driving, I can't remember if it was fairgo or seven sharp.Anyway, they say listening to an ipod with headphones is legal. However anything that causes a distraction, such as eating cereal in your car while driving, could be considered dangerous driving, which you can get fined for. I don't know noise being blocked is a problem, as they allow deaf people to drive, and they can't hear anything at all.

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#1051325 22-May-2014 19:59

PhantomNVD:
Sideface:
PhantomNVD: Waf=7-8
Traffic officer = ??

FYI I often have an audiobook I'd like to hear in the car, and have a long shared commute... but also have a 2 and 5 yr old who shouldn't really hear it (violence etc.)

Thoughts?

Do you have a death wish?

... Do all deaf people have a death wish too? ...

Headphones don't just mask ambient sound, they distract you as well.
Most "deaf" people are only partially deaf, and can still hear ambient sound.
Headphones - specially noise-cancelling ones - are great for passengers, but not for drivers.

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gzt

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#1051328 22-May-2014 20:06

Deaf people know they are deaf.

Personally I would not do it.

Handsfree looks like something similar but it is not a full dynamic range and immersive experience.

mattwnz

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#1051331 22-May-2014 20:07

Sideface:
PhantomNVD:
Sideface:
PhantomNVD: Waf=7-8
Traffic officer = ??

FYI I often have an audiobook I'd like to hear in the car, and have a long shared commute... but also have a 2 and 5 yr old who shouldn't really hear it (violence etc.)

Thoughts?

Do you have a death wish?

... Do all deaf people have a death wish too? ...

Headphones don't just mask ambient sound, they distract you as well.
Most "deaf" people are only partially deaf, and can still hear ambient sound.
Headphones - specially noise-cancelling ones - are great for passengers, but not for drivers.

But a in car radio t also distracts. I don't know if there is really much of a difference between headphones and speakser in terms of distraction, and many headphones will let in a lot of outside noise. Although I could see a problem with the noise cancelling ones if they did infact block out all the outside noise.
Before mobiles, the main distraction that caused accidents was people tuning and fiddling with their radios.

Dingbatt

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#1051348 22-May-2014 20:18

Perhaps not in the OP's case but every so often when a car drives past our house with its sub so loud that it rattles our windows I wish headphones were compulsory in cars in place of speakers ;-)

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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