Is it illegal to drive whilst listening to your Ipod?

[Misty77]

I heard someone at work saying the Police could do you for driving without due care and attention. Is this right ? Obviously its not the same as a phone, because you're just listening to music - you're not concentrating on a conversation or text. I've not heard anything in the UK to say it's illegal, in the US maybe ?

[Andy Boz]

Not only is it illegal, it's also very very stupid

[trevHCS]

There's no specific law, but then there wasn't for using a phone and people were still done for it before the specific one came out.

Driving without due care & attention is what they've have you for if you didn't have an accident, just like eating, drinking, trying to find a CD or anything that causes you to not be concentrating on the road. This assumes you're using it with the earphones btw.

Whether you'd actually get taken up on this depends on the officer you met, but some are a right stickler for the law, so best use an iPod FM transmitter.

If you want an example of how annoying they can be - someone was prosecuted a couple of years ago for not having their hands on the wheel, even though they were standing at a red light! Got 3 points for not keeping the car under full control. You really want to make their day?

[almcd007]

How would the person hear someone's horn or perhaps the two tones of the emergency services ? It's mad. Your blocking off one of your senses whilst driving. Get a Dension ipod link to the stereo and enjoy your i-pod that way. There �99 fitted at Halfords and well worth it.

[Toureman]

It is not illegal!

It is stupid.

If it could be proved that using one caused you to have an accident then you could be charged for driving without due care and attention.

[woodchopper]

Just because one cannot hear external sounds Andy Boz it does make it illegal - how else would a deaf driver cope ??
It is unwise though.

[Andy Boz]

OK, I stand corrected. I presumed it was illegal, due to not driving without due care and attention. If you can be done for eating a Mars Bar at the wheel, I thought listening to an ipod would also qualify.

[almcd007]

My point being that if you have the abllity to hear - you should use it and a policeman wouldn't pull up a deaf driver because he can't hear, but would pull up a numpty listening to his ipod who chooses not to have the benefit of his hearing.

Theres no specific law but like other examples given, it can be used to prove careless driving.