Isn't it dangerous to have headphones on WHILE driving???

[dabolton]

deaf people dont hear sirens either. how is that different. I like to wear my noise cancelling headphones WITHOUT music attached just to get rid of ambient noise from my car. I can hear sirens and other noises perfectly fine.

[treedonkey]

Answer to OP: yes
It's also illegal. Unlike people with headphones, deaf people don't have the option to be un-deaf at will, so the law makes some provisions for them. I believe they have some extra hurdles to jump through before getting a CA DL though.

[niv4lac]

a person from my high school was driving and she was hit by someone wearing headphones. He was also a meth addict.

she was in the hospital for a few days because of it.


i hate it when people text message while they drive. One of my friends was killed when he drifted into the other lane becasue he was texting.

[Techmaniac]

Hearing sirens or horns is not as important as some imply. There are many vehicles that make so much noise that it wouldn't matter. Some trucks make so much noise that people could hardly hold a conversation in it. Motor cyclist have several things against hearing clearly wind, helmets, and the sound that a lot of the bikes make. Some models of cars pride themselves on sound quieting abilities. Let us not forget that the if a person has the windows up they can raise the volume at a high level that won't get them pulled over for noise violations but could still damage their hearing and most definitely cancel any sound outside of the vehicle. We all have several mirrors and using our eyes we can drive safely just fine.

Using cell phones can present problems such as texting, dialing, or holding it while talking. Finding a safer way of using cell phones while driving has been addressed by voice command dialing, speed dialing, hands free devices (headsets both mono and stereo), speaker modes, ect. Some of the things mentioned cost extra to buy to both be safer for ourselves and to appease those who question the way we have handled this technology.

The complaints of past was that people are fooling around with their radios to much changing channels, playing with the volume, putting in cassetts, or changing CDs. I am not saying that people don't screw up doing these things. I know that people mess up doing many things while driving but keep in mind that the same person who was dancing and gesturing to the music would still do it with or without headphones. Should everyone be punished because some don't handle themselves properly. Here is another thought that someone on a long drive can stay more alert talking to someone on the phone (using the devices to make things more safe) or listening to audio books, music, podcasts, ect.

There are more major issues like state of mind like being distraught, angry, exhausted. People will always find distractions like drinking, eating, putting on make-up, ect. There is no easy solution to all of the problems we have with bad drivers.

For a site on some of the laws is here: http://www.drivinglaws.org/indexhf.php

[imedbone]

Yes, this law is pointless since the root reasoning behind it is being able to hear emergency vehicles, yet there are so many other situations you can put yourself in where you can legally not be able to hear. Remove this law, or correct all other related laws to uphold the same justification.

Questioning why the deaf are allowed to drive then is the reason I stumbled onto this page in the first place. If you truly weren't allowed to do anything that impeded your awareness and the ability to hear sirens, then you cannot drive if you are deaf, regardless of what you think your rights are. Yet deaf people are allowed to drive. It is already widely accepted by law that driving is a privilege and not a right.

I do think that it is inherently unsafe for deaf people to be allowed to drive vehicles. It's as illegal as allowing captain hook (with his hook) through security and onto a plane because it is his *prosthetic device*. Captain hook doesn't have a *right* to fly.

And now they get to have class action lawsuits because the call boxes in CA are not "deaf friendly"? what is this crap man? none of the drive through windows in town are deaf friendly (which should be better for their health though). either are the announcements at any sporting event or the music in a strip club. why would we continue to spend a never ending stream of money to accomodate you mr. deaf guy/girl? just to be nice? I don't think so.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

I went through the hassle of going hands free / single ear and I still see all kinds of people with no headset for their phone, and as noted above, people with illegal two ear head sets. Nothing is done. Almost zero enforcement.

[llowllevellowll]

Originally Posted by Luke9686

I've seen several people reading books while driving. That's one I never understood.

While driving down 101, there was a major traffic jam. I totally got a chapter of one of my books in during this. Aside from traffic jams though, I'd never do it.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by Puddy4LyF

While driving down 101, there was a major traffic jam...

So we got out, opened up the cooler, and sold enough beer to break even at the show at Shoreline. Always be ready for traffic jams .

[bigdumbgod]

Did you 'hear' about the thread that was brought back from the dead?

[coldPlay]

I'm now used to seeing people swerving and not keeping up with traffic. I usually always confirm my suspicion as I pass them and see they're trying to text while driving. Yes, it's one thing as a teen, their ignorance is not entirely excusable, but to see an idiot adult it's a bit absurd. I'm sorry, I have little sympathy for those who text and talk on the cell phone while driving, walking, shopping while in any public place of business, and even in line for the airport. But if it's a fun convo that I will enjoy while standing in line and there may be some level of entertainment, that is fine. But usually it's all about some joker who thinks he's so important that he must torture the rest of us in the airport queues or the waiting for the drivers at the airports, or the insecure spouses who cannot make a purchase or rent a video without the endorsement of their spouses that drive me insane.