Questionis it legal to drive a bike and listen to music via headphones? I'm getting my license soon and I was wondering if during my drives I would have to give up my iPod?
Hope to hear from you soon :D
AnswerIga, to answer your question properly I will need your location as different countries, even within the EU have different laws.
In the UK for example, you can buy items for this purpose that allow you to listen to an mp3 player or even communicate with a pillion passenger. Some of these devices even have Bluetooth capability so you can receive calls while on the move.
The legality comes in, and this can be quite complicated, if an accident or incident occurs. Should you not have one of these devices, the incident will be dealt with normally however, if you are involved in an accident while using one of these devices and it is VERY difficult to prove that you were not, then the penalties can be very severe indeed. As is the case for a car driver using a mobile phone when driving. Should you be classed as 'not being in full and proper control of the vehicle' as a result of using one then you could face fines amounting to thousands of pounds, disqualification and even a custodial sentence.
Let me know where you are and I'll check on the legal position there. If you're in the UK then you can use one but bear in mind the caution that I mentioned earlier.
As I said, the laws are different in different countries, getting stopped for speeding in Germany would be far worse than here in the UK and we're pretty tough nowadays.
Well done for checking first, good idea and very responsible.
Andrew
