The folks at LifeHacker.com and the American Automobile Association (AAA) have answered this question. It depends on where you're driving.
In some states, there is no law at all against wearing headphones while driving a vehicle. In other states, it's against the law to wear headphones of any sort. In the rest of the states, it can get a little complicated.
LifeHacker.com and AAA have put together some information to help drivers figure out where they can, cannot, or sometimes can wear head sets while driving.
This graphic from LifeHacker will help you sort out the states' different rules:
Image Source: LifeHacker.com
Our practice is nation-wide and I'm often traveling in other states. This map makes it easier to determine in which states drivers can, cannot, or maybe can wear headphones while driving. In the green states, like Missouri where we have offices, there are no restrictions against driving with headphones. In red states, it is illegal to wear head sets while driving (with the exception of a few very limited circumstances).
In the black states – including Illinois, where we also have an office – the answer in more complicated:
Illinois – Illegal to wear headphones or ear buds while driving. Bluetooth head sets are permitted, but only in one ear.
Washington / Virginia – Illegal to wear headphones or ear buds while driving, unless the headphones are built into a helmet or are a Bluetooth head set.
Oregon – It is generally legal to wear headphones or ear buds while driving, but there may be local or county ordinances that make doing so illegal.
California / Minnesota / Florida / Ohio / Pennsylvania / New York – It is illegal to wear headphones or ear buds in both ears while driving. Use in one ear is permitted.
Alaska – It is illegal to wear headphones while driving, unless part of a hearing aid, GPS or navigational device.
Georgia – Illegal to wear headphones or ear buds while driving. Bluetooth headsets or other hands-free devices are permitted.
Massachusetts – Illegal to wear headphones while driving, unless used to control the direction or movement of your vehicle.
The primary concerns with headphones and driving involve (1) possible distractions; and (2) inability to hear emergency vehicles and other important traffic noise. If you choose to use head phones while driving, be sure to limit the volume level or take the advice of states like Illinois, California, Florida, etc. and use your head phones in only one ear to permit you to hear the traffic around you.
Read More:
- Ever Wonder If It's Actually Legal to Wear Headphones When You're Driving? [Adam Pash and Alan Henry at LifeHacker.com]
- AAA Digest of Motor Laws – Headsets
(c) Copyright 2012 Brett A. Emison
Follow @BrettEmison on Twitter.
Brett Emison is currently a partner at Langdon & Emison, a firm dedicated to helping injured victims across the country from their primary office near Kansas City. Mainly focusing on catastrophic injury and death cases as well as complex mass tort and dangerous drug cases, Mr. Emison often deals with automotive defects, automobile crashes, railroad crossing accidents (train accidents), trucking accidents, dangerous and defective drugs, defective medical devices.
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