Fifty Plus (50+) - Wait 'til they study cyclists....

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/17/death-toll-among-pedestrians-wearing-headphones-triples/

This is a sore topic with me, on the same level as texting while driving. I see pedestrians/runners, bicyclist and drivers with ear buds on and are totally oblivious to what is going on around them. Florida has a law against drivers wearing them and by extension of Florida's definition of a bicycle as transportation mode bicyclist are included. I cannot imagine walking or cycling much less driving with ear buds in place.

I actually refuse to talk on a cell phone while driving if it is handheld, I use my voice activated OnStar system's phone in my truck. You get a ticket on the military bases here for using a cell phone or having ear buds in place so it is self defense for my driving privileges on the bases.

I hope Florida gets its act together and bans texting and ear buds (just enforce the current laws) all together while operating a vehicle. Walking would be a constitutional stretch, but we have a bunch of pedestrians killed walking, with ear buds in.) We have had several horrific crashes with fatalities here lately and the drivers were texting, including a 16 year old girl traveling home from high school. It is just irresponsible to do these things while driving and for me while cycling, I want to know when a vehicle is approaching me on our rural roads at 60-70 mph (don't get me started on speeding) End of rant. Not sorry though, by any stretch of the imagination.

Bill

I just think wearing them in any activity like cycling makes you more at risk than not. In the gym on the spin cycle is the only place I use them.

Back when the Walkman started it all, I used to get really steamed at people who used them in traffic, whether on foot or on wheels. I felt as though they were shunting responsibility for their safety and welfare onto me. I had to carry that unrequested and unwelcome burden while they went on their merry and oblivious way. An odd way to view it to be sure, but there it is.

I've since calmed down a bit. ;)

I only wear ear buds while cycling when I'm at the MUP and there are few to no other people there. Otherwise, I use a set of speakers that go under your jersey to listen to music while on the MUP, but not on the road. The speakers are not loud, even with the volume turned all the way up on the MP3 player.

Like Bill, I don't talk on a cell phone and drive and I don't have a text plan so I don't text, even when not driving. After driving emergency vehicles for 30 years, you learn to drive and communicate with the dispatchers and do it safely, but even with all that, it is still dangerous. When I am in my truck, my cell phone is in a dash mounted holder and if a call comes in, it goes on speaker phone. If they can't hear me on the other end, they can wait until I get to my destination and I will call them back. If they don't want to wait, then they really didn't need to talk to me that badly.

Back when the Walkman started it all, I used to get really steamed at people who used them in traffic, whether on foot or on wheels. I felt as though they were shunting responsibility for their safety and welfare onto me. I had to carry that unrequested and unwelcome burden while they went on their merry and oblivious way. An odd way to view it to be sure, but there it is.

I've since calmed down a bit. ;)

I have a friend who rides and races motorcycles with me. One day we were going riding with several other riders and one guy showed up without a helmet. (CT is one of those states where you can do that.) My friend refused to ride with him and said he wasn't interested in having to see someones' "brains on the road." I hadn't thought of it that way before but have concluded that he is right.

Statistics. I hardly ever put much stock in them. They are easily skewed to meet an desired end.

I like to listen to podcasts as I ike commute. My wife always worried about the earbuds. I claimed that it wasn't music and there was plenty of sound getting in. She still worried.
She got me this for Christmas.
http://onegoodearbud.com/
It takes both stereo channels and pumps them into one earbud, leaving one ear free. And legal.
Now we're both happy.

I can't count the number of times I've had to yell LOUDLY when I'm passing a rider, skater, walker, etc. who's got headphones on. I've almost hit several because they're listening to their f'ing music instead of paying attention to their surroundings.

I actually refuse to talk on a cell phone while driving if it is handheld, I use my voice activated OnStar system's phone in my truck.

Several studies have shown that hands free devices are no safer than hand held phones with regard to distracted driving.

I think talking on a cell phone is person-specific as to whether it is dangerous or not. Some people cannot separate talking(and putting themselves in that context) and driving. Others can talk and never lose attention to the REAL task at hand....driving. IT'S NOT THE PHONE THAT MAKES IT DANGEROUS. IT'S THE PLACE THE PERSON PUTS THEMSELVES IN WHILE THEY ARE TALKING!!!!!!! Please realize this. Texting is a whole other story.
There are people that simply talking to another person in a car is a dangerous distraction. That is how I view talking on a phone to me while driving. No different than talking to someone in the car. It does not take me away from the task at hand. I stay mentally focused on driving, not in the world in which I am talking. This is something people do not realize takes place.
This does not mean I think it's bad to make it illegal. But then again I dislike laws like helmet laws and the like. Just don't like someone telling someone else what they think is wrong. Now liability on the other hand is another story. I believe you are responsible for your actions. Period.

Several studies have shown that hands free devices are no safer than hand held phones with regard to distracted driving.

That's been my experience.

Several studies have shown that hands free devices are no safer than hand held phones with regard to distracted driving.

Yup.

It's not the hands, but the distraction of having your mind elsewhere and not on the road that is the danger.

Even having passengers is a distraction, but much of that danger is balanced by the fact that the passenger often acts as a second pair of eyes to spot danger.

We will never solve distracted people. The reason may be that we target other people's distractions and ignore our own. There are studies all over the place that list the top ten distractions to driving and they may place things in a different order but the one from VTTI and NHTSA list ten we all see while driving.


1. Using a wireless device, such as a cell phone;
2. Talking to and interacting with passengers;
3. Reaching for CDs, food, falling objects, or other internal distractions;
4. Programming radio stations or tinkering with dashboard controls;
5. Using an electric razor, applying makeup, or other personal hygiene-related actions;
6. Unwrapping a burger, opening a can, or other movements when eating at the wheel;
7. External distractions such as pointing out a funny billboard or pedestrian;
8. Talking or singing to yourself;
9. Smoking; and
10. Daydreaming.


What makes these debates difficult is that number 6 people only see number 1 people as distracted. Number 5 people can't understand number 4 people and don't think number 9 people should be allowed to drive. Sometimes when riding a century or a tour or on a great ride through nature I get caught up with number 10.:D

There are studies all over the place that list the top ten distractions to driving and they may place things in a different order but the one from VTTI and NHTSA list ten we all see while driving

They forgot sex while driving!!

They forgot sex while driving!!

I'm so old, I've forgotten it, too.

I'm so old, I've forgotten it, too.

I think I used to do that once!

They forgot sex while driving!!

Some must not see that as a distraction.:o

This is a sore topic with me, on the same level as texting while driving. I see pedestrians/runners, bicyclist and drivers with ear buds on and are totally oblivious to what is going on around them. Florida has a law against drivers wearing them and by extension of Florida's definition of a bicycle as transportation mode bicyclist are included. I cannot imagine walking or cycling much less driving with ear buds in place.

I actually refuse to talk on a cell phone while driving if it is handheld, I use my voice activated OnStar system's phone in my truck. You get a ticket on the military bases here for using a cell phone or having ear buds in place so it is self defense for my driving privileges on the bases.

I hope Florida gets its act together and bans texting and ear buds (just enforce the current laws) all together while operating a vehicle. Walking would be a constitutional stretch, but we have a bunch of pedestrians killed walking, with ear buds in.) We have had several horrific crashes with fatalities here lately and the drivers were texting, including a 16 year old girl traveling home from high school. It is just irresponsible to do these things while driving and for me while cycling, I want to know when a vehicle is approaching me on our rural roads at 60-70 mph (don't get me started on speeding) End of rant. Not sorry though, by any stretch of the imagination.

Bill

Places that pass laws banning phones, texting and headphones, don't need to bother, it's already illegal, it's called careless driving. The problem is that car collisions are considered accidents, where the driver, is considered as much a victim as the person they hit. If dangerous or careless driving carried a year long driving ban, and if you hit someone the courts can make that ban longer up to life, that only works though, if the penalty for driving without a licence isn't a lot stiffer. Of course the victim can get a good lawyer, and take you to the cleaners.

This is a sore topic with me, on the same level as texting while driving. I see pedestrians/runners, bicyclist and drivers with ear buds on and are totally oblivious to what is going on around them. Florida has a law against drivers wearing them and by extension of Florida's definition of a bicycle as transportation mode bicyclist are included. I cannot imagine walking or cycling much less driving with ear buds in place.

I actually refuse to talk on a cell phone while driving if it is handheld, I use my voice activated OnStar system's phone in my truck. You get a ticket on the military bases here for using a cell phone or having ear buds in place so it is self defense for my driving privileges on the bases.

I hope Florida gets its act together and bans texting and ear buds (just enforce the current laws) all together while operating a vehicle. Walking would be a constitutional stretch, but we have a bunch of pedestrians killed walking, with ear buds in.) We have had several horrific crashes with fatalities here lately and the drivers were texting, including a 16 year old girl traveling home from high school. It is just irresponsible to do these things while driving and for me while cycling, I want to know when a vehicle is approaching me on our rural roads at 60-70 mph (don't get me started on speeding) End of rant. Not sorry though, by any stretch of the imagination.

Bill
Don't call me with your hands-free phone while driving. I hang up on folks who are driving while on the phone. I don't want to be an accessory to murder.