Is it legal to drive a car with headphones on?

[stoofur]

I have been reading my local newspaper website and somebody has commented that it is illegal to drive a car with headphone on. Is this true? I have looked on the net and can't find anything specific. I am only asking as I sometimes wear headphones while listening to my Ipod. My car radio is on the blink.

Am I breaking the law?

[kira000]

This specific question was answered by "What Car".

There aren't any specific laws or regulations to stop drivers listening to music through earphones.

However, Rule 148 of the recently updated Highway Code states that drivers should, 'avoid distractions... such as loud music'.

Listening to any music while driving has the potential to mask important sounds, such as other cars' horns or emergency vehicles' sirens.

Using earphones, though, is even more risky, as the source of the music is much closer to your eardrums. Earphones also act like earplugs, blocking out other sounds.

- Whilst it may not be illegal in itself, you may well find that the police consider it enough to go for dangerous driving, or drivig without due care, or something similar, much as they have with people caught eating apples at the wheel.

[New Judge]

kira is quite right.

However, rather than ask yourself whether you are breaking any law, ask yourself whether, by drowning out the vast majority of normal road noise (upon which most drivers depend to a certain degree to assess what is going on around them), you are acting in the best interests of yourself and, more importantly, other road users.

[stoofur]

I see your point but I don't have the music very loud and they are the over the ear headphones not the ones that go in the ear which does block out sound. So I think I can hear pretty much the same as when the radio is on. I just wondered if I would be pulled over if the police could see I was wearing headphones.

[kira000]

You wouldnt necessarily be pulled over for it... but there is every possibility you could be. I guess it is your risk to take, but as New Judge says, is the important thing really not to get pulled by the police more than being responsible and driving safely?