helmet speakers - illegal?

[Dumbass17]

does anyone know if aftermarket motorcycle helmet speakers are illegal?
and while we're on it, is it illegal to have your ipod earbuds in your ears while driving? either on a bike or car? i've seen so many people driving brand new cars and they have their earbuds in lol
is this legal or illegal? i can't find any straight up answer anywhere

[natejj]

I'm in the process of getting my moterbike license, and don't know how to ride yet..... but isn't riding one dangerous enough, is there seriously people who are stupid enough to listen to their ipod while riding??

[Mibz]

I can't find any specific offense for headphones or music being too loud but I'm sure they can nab you under a catch-all offense if they find that impaired hearing was the cause of a problem (Not getting out of the way of an emergency vehicle).

As for whether aftermarket helmet speakers are legal, well I imagine they'd advertise DOT approval if they were, but I could be wrong.

EDIT: I assume the post below mine is meant for the guy above me.

[Dumbass17]

^^ haven't you seen harley riders with earbuds/earplugs in?
riding any bike at 120km/hr gets pretty noisy with the wind man.

i wouldn't use them around town lol, that's dumb. but for long trips they'd be a headache safer.

tons of riders where them

[aget]

Looks like the provincial government sets the law on distractions while driving. Seems that headphones are only illegal in Manitoba. I guess you are safe in Alberta

Most provinces and territories limit the use of distracting devices in cars, but only Newfoundland and Labrador has banned the use of handheld cellphones while driving. The Manitoba government prohibits listening to headphones while driving but not the type used for cellphones.

Source

[GQBalla]

Originally posted by Dumbass17
^^ haven't you seen harley riders with earbuds/earplugs in?
riding any bike at 120km/hr gets pretty noisy with the wind man.

i wouldn't use them around town lol, that's dumb. but for long trips they'd be a headache safer.

tons of riders where them

i never needed some sort of ear plugs, i guess my helmet had some pretty good sound deadening

[Dumbass17]

^^^hmmm weird

laws are goofy

yes i said goofy

[Pollywog]

I want to say that it is moronic for a motorcyclist to wear earbuds or to listen to music in general while riding, but its hard to when you see the majority of people in cages driving almost blind with the cheeseburgers, Lil Wayne and cellphones distracting them on a daily.

I do advocate wearing hearing protection such as ear plugs for louder bikes and wind noise however.

[Dumbass17]

^i agree

hence why i'm asking about helmet speakers though.
i know i've seen helmets with built-in speakers but that doesn't necessarily mean they're legal

[snoop101]

Originally posted by Dumbass17
^i agree

hence why i'm asking about helmet speakers though.
i know i've seen helmets with built-in speakers but that doesn't necessarily mean they're legal

Arent those for two-way comm devices?

[civic_stylez]

Im going to start wearing ear plugs... the wind noise under my helmet is brutal.... i get wicked headaches when i do the okotoks/black diamond/longview tour. I'd consider an ipod on the highway but not in the city.

[Pollywog]

Originally posted by Dumbass17
hence why i'm asking about helmet speakers

Hence why I said " it is moronic for a motorcyclist to wear earbuds or to listen to music in general while riding".

[Grogador]

Why? Nobody is gonna sneak up behind you at 280kph. On that note, speakers are better used for radar detectors...

[AutodreamFrank]

my shoei rf-1000 is wicked for noise deadening, but I wouldn't mind some background music while riding. I am always aware of other drivers around me if they are texting or on there phones, I keep distance. As long as it's not too loud, I think it's okay.

[SetoJai]

No music in the city only on the highway. It gets boring after awhile without music and also my HJC helmet has HORRIBLE sound deadning capabilities... need a new one soon.

[95EagleAWD]

You can't hear much on a bike anyways besides your own exhaust... I listen to music. Not blaring loud, but I have my iPod going.

[Cos]

you on CGP?

anyways, I will say in this thread what I said in the other thread. I dont think the headphones themselves are illegal, just impeding your hearing (same as having your car stereo too loud) is illegal. I dont wear when i am running around town or if I am with a buddy for a boot. However if the wife and I are running out to camore on 1A or the Bragg->BD run then I will. I find it helps me from having my mind wander on straight pieces of road.

If my mind wanders I am paying LESS attention. BTW I keep it at seriously 10 - 15% volume.

[95EagleAWD]

Yeah, mine are set quite low. I bought black earphones so the white iPod cord doesn't stand out against my jacket. I run the cord under my leathers too, so all you can see is the cord by my ears a little. Try and keep it under the radar, haha.

[Masked Bandit]

I doubt that it's actually illegal. I wear mine on the highway. I don't think there's any difference between the earbuds or earplugs at highway speeds / noise volume.

[donnie533]

I have never tried the earbuds, but do have speakers installed in my helmet. This is part of a rider-to-rider communicator. The iPod can be connected to the device with a small cable. A cellphone or GPS can be bluetoothed to it also --- have not done this as taking on the phone while riding would be insane.
I have used iPod and had no problem hearing vehicles around me - since the speakers are not actually in your ears.
IMHO - the communicator is priceless for riding with wife (on her bike or on back of mine).