Motorcycle accidents and journeying with music

Anecdotally, there is a growing body of evidence that increasing numbers of motorcyclists are plugging themselves in to the headphones of personal stereo systems such as ipods in order to give themselves a soundtrack to the riding experience. Doing so clearly increases the risk of a motorcycle accident.

This is because riding demands absolute concentration, and with listening to environmental traffic factors playing a key role in safeguarding rider safety, the dangers of listening to music while riding are clear. However, it is not only a motorbike accident that such riders need to guard against. There is also a heightened risk of industrial deafness, as music will generally have to be played at a volume capable of blocking out environmental noise such as wind and traffic, leading to potentially irreversible hearing loss.

Although unlike in many US states, such as Florida it is not always strictly illegal for motorcyclists to ride with headphones, the vast majority of road safety organisations such as BRAKE will advise against it. But it is not only headphones that pose a motorcycle accident risk as there are also in-helmet sound systems available on the market. These have speakers built in to the interior of the helmet and work by restricting outside noise. Once again, the dangers of these should be obvious.

Fortunately, the majority of motorcyclists are in agreement about the pitfalls of listening to music while riding, however atmospheric it may seem, yet it seems there are still a minority with a gung-ho attitude who like to leave messages on internet forums offering such irresponsible advice as, "The only problem with riding with headphones in is that you can't hear the police sirens coming!"

This is best counterpointed by another internet forum posting, "Sure, ride with headphones if you're determined to. Ignorance is bliss and it will be, right until the moment when having not heard the ambulance approaching, you are surprised to see a paramedic kneeling to attend you,"

It is also worth considering that if you are involved in an accident, proof you were listening to loud music at the time of your accident may adversely affect your ability to claim compensation.

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