Last Updated: on July 13, 2023 by Jack
Headphones are worn by just about everyone in society these days. There are different reasons one would wear headphones in the first place, such as listening to music, podcast, audiobook or even just the radio or news.
But is it ok to combine it with a casual drive to work?
Well, it isn’t illegal to wear headphones such as Airpods in the UK whilst driving, but there’s more to consider than just the legality of it, namely the road safety aspect of wearing them behind the wheel.
Can You Be Charged?
The police can still charge you if they feel your driving is impaired by headphone usage in any way and your attention isn’t entirely on the road.
If there are any driving incidents where there’s evidence that headphones were in use at the time, you could be charged with dangerous or careless driving.
It’s down to police discretion at the time and whether they believe they could cause you to have an accident or put other road users at risk. The police need to be sure that you’re concentrating on the road fully and are aware of everything else happening around you.
What Does The Highway Code Say About It?
Although there’s no specific mention of wearing headphones whilst driving in the Highway Code, Rule 148 says, “Safe driving and riding needs concentration”.
It then goes on to say that you should avoid distractions such as loud music, starting or adjusting any music or the radio.
Rule 148 of the Highway Code is basically saying that listening to music, or any audio for that matter, whilst driving can be a distraction. If you add on the fact that you’re covering your ears with a pair of headphones to listen to that audio, it will probably be seen as a distraction, especially if you also have to adjust the headphones or audio.
Why Is Wearing Headphones Whilst Driving Such A Problem?
We’ve established that wearing headphones is generally seen as a distraction whilst driving, but is it any more distracting than listening to the car stereo?
The main issue with headphones around or in your ears compared with a car stereo is that your chance of hearing anything else around you is severely reduced. Add on the fact that most headphones these days are noise cancelling meaning even more external noise will be blocked out.
You might struggle to hear important noises such as car horns, engines of motors approaching and even pedestrians.
Some in-ear headphones might give you a better chance of hearing important road sounds than on-ear headphones, but they’re still restricting your overall hearing range.
Having to adjust headphones when your hands are on the steering wheel is another issue. Of course, you still have to use your hands to adjust a car stereo, but you have more to contend with when consuming your audio through earphones.
If the headphones are sitting uncomfortably on your head or in your ears, the sound is too loud and needs adjusting, or you just want to take the headphones off, all this requires the use of your hands, which isn’t ideal behind the wheel.
Does Using Just One Earbud Make A Difference?
Wearing just one earbud isn’t going to be as restrictive as wearing a full set of headphones, but your attention is still divided.
One ear has music or a podcast playing away, and the other is trying to concentrate on listening to everything else going on around you.
The same applies as above in regards to having to adjust it. It’ll still be seen as a potential distraction if you need to remove the earbud or adjust any settings.
If it’s between wearing one earbud and a full pair of headphones, one earbud is marginally better, but still not advisable.
Alternatives To Using Headphones When Driving
Depending on why you’re using the headphones in the first place, there are other alternatives that you could try that are less restrictive than headphones.
If you’re using headphones just to listen to some music or a podcast, you could try using your car stereo instead. Granted, the radio in your car may not have your collection of music and audiobooks, but if it’s a case of just having something playing away in the background to replace some company, it’s worth considering the radio.
There’s Android and Apple stereo units that you can have installed in your vehicle that allow you to connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. You can then play all your music, audiobooks, podcasts and even YouTube stuff through your car speakers while driving. These stereo units also allow you to dial and receive phone calls simply by pressing the touchscreen it uses; this can eliminate the need for wearing a Bluetooth headset or headphones.
Portable Bluetooth speakers are popular these days and can be used inside the car if you don’t like the idea of having to splash out on a new stereo system and then have it all installed. Speakers are always a better alternative to headphones when driving as they’re not as restrictive overall and can allow you to hear surrounding sounds slightly better.
All these alternatives still require the use of your hands, which you should try and avoid where possible.
Advice: Avoid Wearing Them Behind The Wheel
Although we’ve established that wearing headphones isn’t necessarily illegal, the distractions that it can create could lead to dangerous driving and will give the police a reason to pull you over.
Unless you really have to wear headphones for personal or work-related reasons, we recommend avoiding them altogether when driving.
If it’s just some entertainment or music you’re after, there’s other ways to consume audio in the car without restricting your ability to hear important sounds on the road. Just try to eliminate as many distractions as possible when behind the wheel and avoid having to take your hands off the wheel at any point to adjust stuff.
Remember, headphones or not, ensure that any audio playing inside the vehicle is at a reasonable volume level and not crazy loud. Managing volume levels not only promotes a safer driving experience but also prevents long-term hearing loss.
*Please note this article is not intended as legal advice but for general education and learning purposes only. Please seek professional legal advice on the subject if you are unsure of the laws in your location.