Illegal to drive a car with an Ipod on?

Action Jackson · 01-04-2007, 02:10

Sitting at traffic lights today and there's a woman in the car next to me and she's 'head bobbing' with her Ipod on (being a champion head bobbing interpreter, I deduced she was listening to Cliff Richard's 'Wired For Sound').

Apart from being irresponsible (surely it must be too distracting to have an ipod on whilst driving and would also prevent you from hearing noises like Ambulances/ Fire Engines etc approaching - or screaming pensioners that you have just hit with your car) I had always assumed this was illegal, but I can't find anything conclusive on the web about it. Does anyone know for sure?

And while I'm at it (to get double value for my thread), is it actually illegal to drive with your courtesy light on in the car at night, or is it just a recommendation? People always seem to insist this is illegal but I have never actually seen anything official about that one either.

Thanks in advance.

Shaun · 01-04-2007, 03:04

Was your car fitted with a radio/stereo/CD/MD player when you bought it (or was it the 1930's?)??

If you've removed yours then I'll take this seriously (or if your car was made before 1932) if not then I think you're a troll.

Not "groovy" for someone "inventing the cool"!!!!

Paul · 01-04-2007, 06:33

As far as I know you are not allowed to drive a vehicle whilst wearing headphones/ ear pieces that stop you hearing what is happening outside your car as it stops you hearing sirens. As for the interior light I do not believe it is illegal to drive with it lit.

aliferste · 01-04-2007, 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun

Was your car fitted with a radio/stereo/CD/MD player when you bought it (or was it the 1930's?)??

If you've removed yours then I'll take this seriously (or if your car was made before 1932) if not then I think you're a troll.

Not "groovy" for someone "inventing the cool"!!!!

Hey, as I was reading his thread I actually thought what interesting questions

piggy · 01-04-2007, 08:27

@paul

deaf people are allowed to drive so how can it be illegal for a hearing person to be effectively "deaf" to the outside world?

Pia · 01-04-2007, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun

Was your car fitted with a radio/stereo/CD/MD player when you bought it (or was it the 1930's?)??

If you've removed yours then I'll take this seriously (or if your car was made before 1932) if not then I think you're a troll.

Not "groovy" for someone "inventing the cool"!!!!

Why a troll? It's a valid question i thought!

It's different listening to the radio to having earphones in, an iPod blocks out other sounds.....

Paul · 01-04-2007, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by piggy

@paul

deaf people are allowed to drive so how can it be illegal for a hearing person to be effectively "deaf" to the outside world?

Being deaf is a disability not a circumstance, deaf people probably are more observant than many hearing drivers. Add to that the fact that people with disabilities should not and can not be discriminated against means that deaf people are allowed onto the roads as long as they complete the same training and pass the same tests as their hearing counterparts.
Loud music or music being played into earphones/ headphones is also looked upon as a distraction to the driver which is probably why it is viewed differently.

Action Jackson · 01-04-2007, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun

Was your car fitted with a radio/stereo/CD/MD player when you bought it (or was it the 1930's?)??

If you've removed yours then I'll take this seriously (or if your car was made before 1932) if not then I think you're a troll.

Not "groovy" for someone "inventing the cool"!!!!

You're clearly insane.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

As far as I know you are not allowed to drive a vehicle whilst wearing headphones/ ear pieces that stop you hearing what is happening outside your car as it stops you hearing sirens. As for the interior light I do not believe it is illegal to drive with it lit.

That's what I thought, but couldn't find anything official on the web about it. Iirc, it's definitely illegal to use on on a motorbike (I think - maybe someone can confirm).

As for the interior light, I've heard 2 different stories about why it's illegal to use it at night.

1. It distracts other road users.

2. By illuminating the interior of your car at night, it distracts you and impairs your view of the road.

I've never seen anything official about it though. Might just be a myth.

01-04-2007, 11:04

why would a small light in a car distract other road users ? do the not use headlights at night? unless of course your thinking maybe its a UFO maybe

Action Jackson · 01-04-2007, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

why would a small light in a car distract other road users ? do the not use headlights at night? unless of course your thinking maybe its a UFO maybe

To be honest, I think that possibly my old man made that one up himself because I remember asking him to put on the light so I could read my comic in the car at night and that's the excuse he would always use.

The second one is the more common reason I keep hearing.

bonzoe · 01-04-2007, 11:38

I-pods can be played through the car radio, or do you want to ban that?

TheNorm · 01-04-2007, 11:43

I can't see anything in The Highway Code regarding these two questions. The closest is:

Quote:

82: At night or in poor visibility, do not use tinted glasses, lenses or visors or anything that restricts vision.

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/

Action Jackson · 01-04-2007, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonzoe

I-pods can be played through the car radio, or do you want to ban that?

Eh? Calm down, I don't want to ban anything. I also use an ipod through my car stereo. Just asking if anyone knew the legalities of actually wearing one whilst driving.

Having an ipod plugged through your stereo is obviously different from actually wearing one, because when you wear one then it would cancel out all other noise, which could be dangerous I reckon.

---------- Post added at 12:04 ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

I can't see anything in The Highway Code regarding these two questions. The closest is:

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/

Yeah, checked there as well and couldn't see anything.

Only one thing for it. I'll have to put my ipod on at night, jump in the car, put on the courtesy light and continually drive past the police station to see if I get arrested.

**Paul M** · 01-04-2007, 12:56

No more comments about trolls please, if you wish to report a thread then use the correct system. The team will decide if a thread should continue.

papa smurf · 01-04-2007, 13:18

well i suppose its better than numpties with 3 million watt amps, 50 speakers and the windows down ,so we can all benifit from there total disreguard of other peoples feelings at 3am