Do you wear headphones while driving?

It's illegal in VA and I think in TN also.

 

Funny-It's insignificant until something bad happens-like the recent texting epidemic.

So far you've been lucky- and if lucky is what you want to be- Go for it. I'll stick to not taking more risks than I really need to.

 

...funny is that most arguments come from people who don't wear headsets when driving. Is it possible for something to happen? Sure, but most accidents happen because of bad driving, everything else becomes just an excuse.
There is nothing you can do with the volume rocker on a headset that you can't do with the volume rocker on your stereo.
All i'm saying is that as a device, both of them can be loud enough to make you not hear what's going on around you. It's up to you to turn it up or down. And since every car has a stereo system in it, it's a useless argument.

 

It's not a useless argument at all- Talk to any type of hearing specialist and you'll find out that having ear buds jammed in your ears or ear phones covering them has a distinctly different effect on audio performance than a loud stereo...and I don't turn my stereo up all that loud either.

You are right- Bad driving has a lot to do with accidents- but adding another distraction as far as wires running to your device and what song is playing or who you are talking to adding risk that just isn't necessary.

And I don't need to do crack or jump off a building to know that it can be bad for me...same goes for this. I'm not gunna do something risky/stupid and/or illegal just so I have a valid comparison.

 

This ^^^

 

...i didn't know you went to talk to hearing specialists in order to correctly answer this thread.
...if you think this would be bad for you, hat's off to you, don't do it. But when you try to convince others of your arguments when you clearly don't have any proof to back it up, is what i would consider risky/stupid.
Besides, this thread was a question about who wears earphones and who doesn't, it was never an outreach for somebody to convince everybody that they shouldn't (that's the gov.s job). And even so, when i take someone's advice, is based on proven facts and experience of the other person's. Never a useless opinion.

 

Not one person has voted yes on this poll, yet you are still stubborn enough to not see anything wrong with wearing headphones while driving..

 

Common sense should tell you no. I have jumped in the truck with headphones on before and my spacial awareness was greatly diminished, so I wouldn't exactly say its the safer option.

 

I wore headphones most days I rode my motorcycle. Worked great to block out a little of the exhaust drone so my ears wouldn't be ringing after a long day of riding... It also had volume on the wire so I could turn the music lower when I was in traffic. With noise canceling headphones and music at the right volume I could still hear feedback from my bike, listen to music, and hear other vehicles/emergency vehicles.

All that said I've never worn headphones while driving and felt that I pay way more attention when I ride vs when I drive so I see valid arguments for both sides.

 

I didn't for this thread- but I work in a field where hearing acuity matters-so I've studied it a bit. They make custom fit headphones that are tied to the helicopters audio system to allow voice frequencies thru and block out "white noise" because if you use standard ear plugs- You attenuate all frequencies and can lose audio information (like cockpit alarms, radio instructions, etc). I can bore you with some of the intricacies of the human ear and sensativies...but I'm pretty sure it'd be lost on you.

Same thing applies to covering your ears with head phones or ear buds. I'm sorry I don't have a study that clearly outlines this to your standards...but the fact that headphones are illegal in at least 20 states that I can think of and I'm pretty sure most of the rest of them too...That should be enuf "proof" that you shouldn't be doing it. And as far as convincing people they should do something safely- It's pretty clear from this poll that you are on the losing side of this argument...So I guess my risky stupid self has a clue what is going on in the real world??

And I honestly don't care if you take my advice- You have the pay for the damages/tickets-Not me. Do whatever you like...Just don't ever do it near me.

 

I have the earbuds with mic that came with my droid phone, like iphones get too. People may be doing that while driving, not actually listening to music, but have them in for a call if it happens.

 

^^^^^ I dont think he's been in a helicopter to understand what noise really is ..


Never have and never will, for all the reasons listed in this thread

 

Its Illegal in WA

 

FIFY...And those are just the ones I can remember from this thread and that I know of first hand.

 

Luckily my taco has Bluetooth but I do it all the time when I'm driving around in my work truck. I use it to make calls on my iPhone. I push a button and tell it who to dial and my eyes never leave the road.

 

I'm glad you fly in helicopters, little proud of you too, but it's not the question here. If you feel the need to mention that just so you can sound like you know what you're talking about, you just might have impressed a bunch of people...i'm not one of them.
Being illegal has little to do with it, as most minor laws of this sort have more to do with making money then they do with safety.
Up until this point right here, there has been more accidents involving people using cruise control, locking differentials and traction control systems, than involving earphones. Come to think of it (since you're so big in being safe and not taking risks) i think i'm safer with earphones on than i would be flying in a helicopter...since statistics are so important to you.
However, at the end of the day, i never argued that this is the best thing to do, in any way. I was asked if i do it and i replied that i do it, bur do it in a safe manner. And i firmly believe that if everybody was doing it in a safe manner, it would have much more insignificance than other things that people do while driving (while still not being the greatest idea). That being said you're 100% right about the "rather none at all" idea, but sadly that's not how things work in this world, if it was there would be no one over 60 driving on the road.
If you're analizing a concept, it's one story. If you're doing a poll just so you can open argument with those that answer your poll in a manner other than one that coincides with yours (or the majority's for that matter), i think as an administrator, you need to revisit your "dos and donts" page.
"...just don't ever do it near me..." or what? I mean... really? Did you feel a chest hair growing when you said that?

This is the end of me with this thread: my understanding of the question in this thread, was if i wear earphones when i drive. My answer was yes. End of story. If i understood the question wrong and this thread is in reality ment to ambush the ones who answer "yes", firstly i apoligize, i'm in the wrong thread; secondly if i wanted someone's opinion i would've asked.

 

I read a lot of blah blah blah here. YOU were the one talking about what was opinion and what was fact. All you've provided is anecdotal evidence that nothing has happened to you...which means NOTHING.


And if you read anything- I'd go back and read the fact that I didn't start this poll...and then realize that as a mod...I'm full well entitled to any and all opinions, just like you. And I'm entitled to tell you that I think yours are foolish and dangerous....To which you have to respond by trying to make fun of me- a sure sign of a failed argument.

If you felt threatened- I'm sorry...It's the internet-Lighten up Francis. It was more of a request anyways- I don't need guys like you endangering my family with your devil may care attitude.

PS- You still haven't voted yes??

 

...well in that case, let me rephrase everything i said so far because i really don't want you to get the wrong idea and i honestly apoligize if you did: i wear earphones when i drive and whether you or anybody here likes it or not, i can't even begin to explain to you how much that means nothing to me. And if you or your family feels endangered by this than i suggest you start taking the bus...or the helicopter

 

Why do I see people wearing headphones in cars that come with audio jacks. The douche kid that works reception for me has an IPOD dock in his car, that he paid extra for, that works with his Iphone, and he uses headphones. Got a ticket the other day. If it was in his dock he could have used the steering wheel controls and not gotten that ticket.

 

you said it yourself phil. CUZ HES A DOUCHE KID!