Originally Posted by
Pamestique
I have personally witnessed some bad accidents when other riders did not hear shouted warnings... one occurred on a ride where the rider had already been warned about music use. Tight corner and a rain rut, the leader yelled out, several riders followed but the guy with music =BAM= right into the rut, serious injury.
Not to go off topic, but that example has nothing to do with being able to hear, but simply riding too fast to be safe.
In advanced driving/motorcycling, there is a rule or driving/riding plan:
What can I see?
What can't I see?
What may be reasonably expected to happen?
And considering these points, you must at all times be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear (or half the distance on single track).
The world out there is not a race track and if you ride as if it is you will come-a-cropper.
I apply these principles to all forms of transport and they serve me well.
This of course doesn't change my view that you should not listen to music with earphones while riding.