Many drivers like to wear headphones or earbuds, perhaps preferring them to the cheap sound system in their car. Music sounds better, and it may even be easier to have a hands-free phone conversation. The phone can simply be synced to the headphones, and the driver can hear everything that is said a bit more clearly.
Interestingly, wearing headphones is not prohibited under state law in Oklahoma, but it is banned by city legal codes in Oklahoma City. As long as drivers are on city streets, they cannot have headphones or earbuds on, and those who do so could face traffic citations. Why is this?
A driving distraction
Essentially, listening to music in this fashion can have a negative impact on someone’s driving abilities. It can be distracting, causing them to focus more on the music they’re listening to or the conversation they’re having than the road around them. This pulls their attention from the road—a cognitive distraction—even if they’re using a hands-free system. This could make it more likely that they cause an accident.
But the bigger issue is that headphones can also block the noises around the vehicle. After all, listening to music on a car stereo system could still be distracting, but the driver will likely hear approaching emergency sirens, road noise from motorcycles, car horns from other drivers and other important sounds. With headphones, the driver may miss all of these signals, making them more likely to make driving mistakes or cause a crash.
Have you been injured?
Even if you avoid dangerous activities while driving, you could be injured in an accident caused by someone else. Take the time to consider how to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more.