Is listening on earphones more unsafe than a car stereo + speakers?

[mikeymikec]

Since I've got my 'new' (read: used, budget) car I haven't felt that I can afford to spend out on getting my stereo fitted to the new one (it doesn't have a standard stereo slot to just take the old one out and put the new one in).

To listen to my own music I've put it on my phone and used earphones. I don't do anything silly like try to look at the screen while driving.

My question is this - do people think that it is any more unsafe to listen to music with earphones while driving a car than to listen to music via the car's stereo + speakers while driving?

There's obviously a lot of variables which might stop the driver hearing things they ought to hear outside the car, such as the level of sound insulation the car has, how loudly they have the music turned up (either on speakers or earphones), and how good their hearing is normally, so for the sake of argument let's say they have the music turned up as much as they need to to hear it properly in either scenario.

Personally I would have thought that there's not much difference between the two scenarios.

Any thoughts on this one?

 

[Insomniator]

I would think yes, I just feel more cut off from the world in general with ear buds in - you really can't hear crap out side of them.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I would think yes, I just feel more cut off from the world in general with ear buds in - you really can't hear crap out side of them.

^^ Pretty much this.

I got pulled over once while riding my motorcycle for speeding. I had earbuds in and music playing and I couldn't hear a fucking thing the guy was saying to me until I took my helmet off and turned off the music.

Luckily, he didn't ticket me for the music. I don't do that anymore primarily because it is a pain in the ass having the cords running down to the device and changing playlists/pausing/turning it on/off is impossible with gloves on.

 

[jaqie]

Just for the possible distraction at a critical moment when someone cuts you off or such... the cables coming tangled, being too tight when you turn your head to see what is going on, the mobile unit falling somewhere, getting the cord caught on something, trying to find the mobile unit to change the song fumbling around instead of knowing where the stereo buttons are, the headphones themselves may be constructed to block out sounds instead of proper open-audio ones....

this is all just off the top of my head. There's a lot more.

 

[MixMasterTang]

^^ Pretty much this.

I got pulled over once while riding my motorcycle for speeding. I had earbuds in and music playing and I couldn't hear a fucking thing the guy was saying to me until I took my helmet off and turned off the music.

Luckily, he didn't ticket me for the music. I don't do that anymore primarily because it is a pain in the ass having the cords running down to the device and changing playlists/pausing/turning it on/off is impossible with gloves on.

Well what get's me is that ear plugs are recommended for riding motorcycles, so how exactly are the earbuds worse (as long as your music is at an acceptable level)?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Well what get's me is that ear plugs are recommended for riding motorcycles, so how exactly are the earbuds worse (as long as your music is at an acceptable level)?

I can hear things outside like horns and sirens, even my exhaust and wind noise with ear plugs but depending on how loud I have my music I may or may not be able to hear those things.

When riding a motorcycle you need to minimize distraction and music is a distraction. Which is why I don't listen to music when I ride anymore.

 

[JCH13]

Yes, ear buds are less safe than speakers, even at the same perceived volume.

Ear buds will reduce the volume of any ambient noise, they are basically earplugs. Speakers will not do this.

Anything that impedes a sense used during driving makes a driver less aware and therefore less safe.

 

[NutBucket]

Isn't it illegal to wear earbuds/headphones while driving?

 

[rh71]

can't hear jack with your ears stuffed. I mean when I have loud metal music on I can barely hear sirens... and one time emergency vehicles were merging into the road I had right-of-way for... totally unexpected as they were behind me diagonally. As they got closer I finally heard the sirens. It's just unsafe.

 

[A5]

Most modern cars already provide a high degree of sound isolation from the outside world. Increasing that by putting earbuds in definitely reduces safety.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Isn't it illegal to wear earbuds/headphones while driving?

California V C Section 27400 Wearing of Headsets or Earplugs


Wearing of Headsets or Earplugs

27400. A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears. This prohibition does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A person operating authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in Section 165.
(b) A person engaged in the operation of either special construction equipment or equipment for use in the maintenance of any highway.
(c) A person engaged in the operation of refuse collection equipment who is wearing a safety headset or safety earplugs.
(d) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of earplugs or molds that are specifically designed to attenuate injurious noise levels. The plugs or molds shall be designed in a manner so as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another motor vehicle.
(e) A person using a prosthetic device that aids the hard of hearing.

So, wearing music listening devices is illegal but wearing hearing protection is legal.

 

[cyclistca]

Isn't it illegal to wear earbuds/headphones while driving?

It is were I live

 

[rh71]

So, wearing music listening devices is illegal but wearing hearing protection is legal.

Sounds like you can go mono though!

 

[Jumpem]

Yes. It is also illegal.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Well what get's me is that ear plugs are recommended for riding motorcycles, so how exactly are the earbuds worse (as long as your music is at an acceptable level)?

Because ear plugs aren't making any noise, just reducing the noise of the environment your ears are in?

Did someone really just ask that?

 

[OVerLoRDI]

My stereo in my car has been broken for years. I only use 1 ear bud (which is legal), it doesn't seem to hinder me from being away of my surroundings. Granted I typically only listen to podcasts while driving, so mono doesn't bother me.