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news
Cyclist with earbuds - copyright Simon MacMichaelLord calls for ban on cyclists using earphones
Lord Scott of Foscote has called for a ban on cyclists using ‘earplugs’, arguing ‘a cyclist’s main protection should be his or her own eyes and ears,’ reports the Evening Telegraph. In response, transport minister Baroness Kramer was keen to emphasise that there are a wide variety of actions which can be taken to improve the safety of cyclists.
Independent crossbencher Lord Scott, who regularly cycles to Westminster himself, told peers at question time how he was ‘appalled’ at the number of cyclists he saw using ‘earplugs’.
“Does the Minister agree that a cyclist’s main protection should be his or her own eyes and ears? The eyes are there to warn against impending danger from the front and the ears ought to assist in identifying impending danger from behind."
He then argued that regulations should dictate that cyclists cannot use earphones.
“If they listen to music, they cannot possibly hear any danger approaching from behind. There are regulations to ensure the use of lights on bicycles in dark or dingy weather. Should there not also be a regulation to prevent the highly dangerous practice to which I have referred?”
Transport minister Baroness Kramer said it was important for everyone to do all they could to improve cycle safety and pointed to segregated cycle paths and HGV design as being key areas. However, when later pressed for an answer to the headphones question specifically by Lord Butler of Brockwell, she responded:
“My Lords, enforceability is always absolutely crucial. I hesitate to tell cyclists exactly what they should do when there is so much scope for us to make improvements in other areas, and I suggest that we pursue those.”
In 2013, London Mayor Boris Johnson said that he would not be against a headphone ban for cyclists while 90 per cent of respondents to a BBC survey the following year were in favour. At the time, Mike Cavenett of the London Cycling Campaign responded to Johnson by saying: "I'd like to know what kind of evidence base the mayor is using. I'm not aware of a single fatality where headphones were implicated."
One of the issues there is that even where the use of earphones is mentioned in a coroner’s report, it is rare that it can be proven to have been a contributory factor. The inquest into the death of 15-year-old Callum Wilkinson in November is one recent example with Assistant Deputy Coroner of Nottinghamshire, Maria Mulrennan, saying:
“I note that Callum usually cycled whilst listening to music. And it would appear from the evidence that he was doing so at the time of the collision. Whether he was distracted or unaware of the approach of Miss Howson’s vehicle is unclear.”
Research published in 2011 in the journal Transportation Research by academics from the University of Groningen found that "listening to music resulted in reduced visual and auditory perception and reduced speed" in cyclists.
While ‘very large’ negative effects were found when in-earbuds were used, no negative effects were found when listening to music using only one earbud. There is also said to be no clear evidence that bans on wearing headphones in Quebec or Florida has reduced the number of cyclists killed in those areas.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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57 comments
What about all the drivers with headphones? Does the Lord plan on doing anything about them?
Given the opportunity I would ban that tomorrow, it was against the rules until the mobile phone ban came in. Hands free kits at the time used one speaker, no one saw the day that phones would come with radio, MP3 or any of the other things that a mobile can do now.
Of course this could also be looked at as an example of what happens when a law is passed too hastily.
Earphones actually make me safer, because I can hear less, I turn and actually look over my shoulder far more.
Deaf people are allowed to drive cars, and I presume ride bicycles too. Is this in question now? Do all licences to deaf people have to be revoked? Are deaf people to be banned from buying bicycles?
I find it easy to hear when cars are approaching behind me and i like that i can be aware that they are coming. I find listening to the cars coming you can judge something about them, such as speed, impatience (revving), or intention not to give you much room (ie. when another car is approaching the other way and you dont think there is enough space but hear the car behind is still coming!). All this gives ME notice to look behind at the right time to further judge the situation and then act, if required.
Obviously though some cant, not everyone has good hearing or able to differentiate sounds and very busy city riding rules hearing anything impossible. Not to mention that if you do have headphones in it is still entirely possible to cycle safely, you still have eyes and a neck afterall.
To sum up, well meaning but foolish. Oh, he is a Lord? ok so we knew that anyway then...
The only good reason to need to hear what's coming is to brace for impact
"I cycle entirely safely with earbuds in and I can totally do my homework while watching the telly mum"
"I cycle entirely safely with earbuds in and I can totally do my homework while watching the telly mum"
Car headlights (not sidelights) are supposed to be on in rain aren't they? Perhaps that is what Lord Scott was thinking of when he referred to bikes in dingy weather.
I don't wear earphones when cycling, but that is my choice. I think it is safer not to, especially when on busy roads. I do sometimes play music through my phone's "loud" speaker (ahem) but it is so quiet I can't hear it when a car approaches or go downhill. It makes hill repeats a lot more bearable.
As others have said, if they are going to ban cyclists from headphones, they need to ban cars from using loud stereos, etc etc. There's about as much chance of that being enforced as stopping mobile phone use behind the wheel...
And there are a lot more ways that the safety of cyclists can be improved. Like people learning to drive with tolerance and awareness of other road users, like overtaking a bike with at least a 2m clearance. Is it really too much to ask?
"There are regulations to ensure the use of lights on bicycles in dark or dingy weather."
No regulation about bikes and lights for "dingy" weather.
If you allow a politician enought time they will display their ignorance, on any subject. The above is enought to let me know that this lord doesn't know enough about the problem to be listened to, pass me my "earplugs", please
?
So my deaf daughter is never going to be allowed to cycle on the roads as she cant use her hearing to help identify impending danger from behind?
Nice.
Here's a thought, lets focus on those people causing the impending danger from behind rather than blame the cyclists for being ran over eh?
The main sense for identifying danger from behind is the eyes on the head of the road user behind, supplemented by shoulder checks.
There aren't any "regulations to ensure the use of lights on bicycles in dark or dingy weather" as Lord Scott claims. The law requires use of lights between the time of sunset and sunrise. It has nothing to do with the weather.
If I remember correctly, not entirely true. Lights during the hours of darkness which is not the same as between sunset and sunrise. Pedantic I know, but just for clarity of how the law works.
Acording to the CTC, bike lights are now required during sunset-sunrise, aka 'lighting up time'. It used to be the 'hours of darkness', which is half an hour shorter at each end.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-library/regulations/lighting-regulations
Maybe he should try cycling with earbuds (not sound-isolating ones) and experience just how difficult it is to exclude traffic sounds?
Also, as others have said, how would you hear which vehicle is carelessly driven or will give you a close pass? I can't usually see that when I have a clear view, much less hear...
Politician spouting unfounded b*ll*cks shocker...
traffic isn't always behind you and it's not always traffic you need to be aware of when on your bike...
Some sections of my commute are so busy & noisy I need ear defenders!
The general din means I couldn't hear earphones anyway. I can barely hear anyone talking beside me.
But hey it's "common sense" right?
I can't hear what's behind me when it's windy. Are we to ban cycling in high breezes?
Hearing is only once sense, and it's much, much less important than sight. One only has to see pedestrians stepping off pavements in front of cyclists because they can't hear a car to know you can't rely on it.
I can tell what's behind me on the road because I'm regularly looking back to check. I'd rather people did this while using headphones, than didn't without.
The impending danger from behind is not the fault of the cyclist wearing headphones, it's the fault of the dangerous driver behind. Back to school for the honourable member.
Lawmaking of the UKIP "common sense" variety, i.e. what people agree to down the pub after five pints.
Blame the victim again.
Err, how exactly? When I am riding in traffic every vehicle overtaking me sounds the same. How do I tell the dangerous ones? And then what do I do? Hop on the pavement as a precaution?
So loud stereo systems in cars are not a problem? What about deaf or hard-of-hearing riders? Ban them from cycling?
Anyone know if there is any evidence with regards to motor vehicle drivers listening to music? I frequently see many motorists failing to pull over for emergency vehicles with their blues and twos going and wonder if loud music is a contributory factor in this? Sometimes i hear loud music from those vehicles.
Anyone know if there is any evidence with regards to motor vehicle drivers listening to music? I frequently see many motorists failing to pull over for emergency vehicles with their blues and twos going and wonder if loud music is a contributory factor in this? Sometimes i hear loud music from those vehicles.
Anyone know if there is any evidence with regards to motor vehicle drivers listening to music? I frequently see many motorists failing to pull over for emergency vehicles with their blues and twos going and wonder if loud music is a contributory factor in this? Sometimes i hear loud music from those vehicles.
Surely anything can possibly distract you from the act of driving. Especially loud music. An especially loud child in the back seat.
Ban all in-car entertainment systems, that's what I say! No heads-up satnav displays, no dvd players, no radio or cd players.
(Mind you, my car and my wife's car are both early 1970s and don't have any of that anyway...).
Absolutely agree, ban cyclists wearing earphones and all in car entertainment. And while we're at it compulsory helmets for car drivers and passengers would save more lives than the same for cyclists.
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