Yes!
Don't do it, please.
Yes!
Don't do it, please.
It is dangerous to wear active noise cancelling headphones while driving.
It is dangerous to wear passive noise cancelling headphones while driving.
It is dangerous to wear any headphones (or earbuds) while driving.
And very likely illegal.
It is legal for a deaf person to drive. It is not dangerous. Listen to whatever you want however you want.
Deaf people live in a permanent state of being deaf, and will develop coping strategies that normally-hearing people will not have.
Even with those coping strategies, it's clearly possible there are still some scenarios in which deaf people would fail to perceive an event or danger while driving, which a hearing person would notice, but we as a society have decided that's an acceptable level of risk because deaf people literally have no choice about being deaf, and it would be excessive to penalise them from being allowed to drive.
On the other hand, when a normally-hearing person blocks out their hearing, they are literally choosing to impair themselves below normal functionality and to drive in that condition, increasing risk.
Deaf people and wearing headphones are not the same argument.
Should we ban radios in cars or limit the volume level of the radio? Should we ban having phone calls whether hands-free or not?
Totally agree that the risk is elevated whilst wearing headphones for a hearing person but not so much that it should make it illegal or even have to think about it.
It's stuff like this that causes all the regulation in the world. Modicoddling us all like babies.
For me, it is about being responsible and limiting your level of risk.
Listening to music on the car speakers at a normal volume is far better than wearing headphones. You can still hear sirens, horns, your indicator lights clicking, and most other cues in the world that let you know what's going on.
Silence is obviously better, if we are making that argument, but this discussion is about where we draw the line of acceptable risk. To me, speaker music is below that line, but blocking your ears with headphones is above it.
I don't want a pointlessly over-regulated world either, but I do believe people should make their choices with consideration for the safety of themselves and others.
I've spent the last 30 years deep in the deaf community and this conversation does come up now and then because the deaf can feel oppressed at times and I expect most deaf have had the "you shouldn't even be driving" comment thrown at them.
The problem is, any heightened senses are not going to make much difference, and the deaf have the right to drive like anyone else and would fight for that right should it be threatened. I would fight for their right to drive too, and so at the same time I can't also say "but you can't wear headphones" as its a double standard.
Given your experience, I appreciete your perspective. For me I don't believe it's a double standard, for the reasons mentioned - deaf individuals have no choice in the matter while hearing people do.
It's a similar argument to driving with a patch over one eye because you lost your eye, versus driving with a patch over one eye because you enjoy cosplaying as a pirate.
We should all make sensible choices.
And by the way, thank you for participating in this discussion with civility.
Yes. In many jurisdictions, it's illegal to use any kind of headphones while driving.
Many, many places it's illegal to drive with both ear buds in place. Thus, you'd never have "noise cancelling".
It's dangerous to use anything that blocks your hearing, even just regular headphones!
It's dangerous to use headphones with active noise cancelling while walking. What do you think?
Yes. Anything that interferes with your ability to pay attention to keeping the tonnes of metal you’re driving on the road, is dangerous. It’s a distraction and stops you from being able to hear audio cues like sirens, crossing signals, etc. Horns are also not entirely “fuck you” buttons but to warn other drivers of potential hazards, through sound. Use your cars sound system. Buy a shitty dongle if you have to; but headphones of any variety is a bad idea for driving. It’s also illegal in some jurisdictions.
Yes.
That is the active removal of useful sensory information that pertains directly to driving.
VERY DANGEROUS.
I'm a cyclist. Within the context of cycling, everyone agrees that using headphones on a bike is very dangerous because it limits your situational awareness. Yet nobody bats an eye at cars playing music with rolled up windows in a much faster and heavier vehicle with bigger blind spots. Driving dangerously is way too normalized.
They very much bat an eye at drivers who use headphones/earbuds while driving--as they should because it is much more dangerous, blocking or muting external sounds while very actively drawing your attention because the sounds are being sent straight into your ear canal.
Hearing through headphones is not comparable to hearing through an external speaker, even in an enclosed space.
Hearing through headphones is not comparable to hearing through an external speaker
Disagree. I think they are very comparable. Wearing headphones in a car is only slightly worse than listening to loud music in the car. Cars have gotten quieter and more isolating, more powerful, bigger, faster, and with bigger blind spots over the years. You barely have any situational awareness if you even roll up the windows, nevermind playing music in any form. The difference between a stereo and headphones is splitting hairs.
I remember back when I was taking driving lessons to get my learner's permit, they specifically said never to war headphones while driving. I don't know if it's illegal or just discouraged, but the intent is that it removes one of your senses from being able to help you react while driving. So it puts you and everyone around you on the road at risk.
If the problem is that your car is too loud, look into OTC hearing aids with active notice canceling. That way you can drown out the noise while still hearing important sounds.
my point is noise cancelation mitigates mostly monotone noise, it has hard time with anything you would need to pay attention to in a car
and i would argue "carefully listnening" to the racket going on in your car damages your hearing and you hear less longterm than using ear protection
People acting like noise canceling headphones block your hearing. Thats only if you listen to something on insane volume.
When I drive on highway I always have either earplugs or headphones, it mitigats wheel hum and wind noise. No way it blocks sirens, honking or even conversations.
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