Blame traffic for accidents, not iPods

Anything that reduces your sensory perception while in control of a vehicle, like wearing earphones and listening to music, is foolish. Having the stereo on in the car while I drive is not the same.

Hearing cars behind me really helps to prevent screw ups but mistakes still happen.

Although training to music in the gym is great it can be dangerous on road.

Why don't people just use a sing ear piece in the near side kerb ear? and leave the other ear to do the work if they must head bang while riding

Frankly, if you're in charge of a vehicle that has the real possibility of causinng harm to others - and this mostly means cars and motorbikes, but can certainly include bicycles - then it is utterly incumbent on *you* to be aware of what is going on about you.

People should be able to walk and cycle around without having to be at a peak of awareness just to satisfy the road-going public.

It's an unproven statement that deaf people have sharpened senses to make up for deafness, and your statement in any case ignores the tens of thousands with some form of partial hearing loss.

I don't agree. I feel that cycling with headphones on is downright stupidity. I can't believe the number of people I've seen cycling and walking with headphones on completely oblivious to the fact that they can't hear what's going on, and just crossing the road without even glancing in the direction of where the car/bike will be coming from!!!

Yes, deaf people can't hear what's going on round them, but their other senses are dramatically sharpened as a result of being in that state permanently, whereas a hearing person blocking out road noises are just removing one of the most important senses they have without sharpening their other ones!!

The same goes for drivers wearing headphones too by the way!!!!

Odd how the motoring lobby never seem to think of why licence is required in order drive a motor vehicle. Whereas cycling and walking do not require a licence. We need to emphasis that certain responsibilities come with a driving licence. If people show that they are unable (or unwilling) to live up to those responsibilities the licence should be withdrawn for life! Simple really.

In the next decade or so, electric cars, vans, etc. will be available for the public to buy. Regardless of whether a cyclist is listening to music with earpieces or not, these vehicles cannot be heard approaching when they are behind the rider.

I struggle to the justification for it to be ok for people to operate motor vehicles whilst listening to music but not walk or cycle and listen.

Surely logic would dictate the form of transport presenting the greatest danger to others should have the tightest restrictions over maintaining concentration.

I can thoroughly recommend David Hembrow's blog.

David has a lot to say about how the Dutch have created the safest environment for cyclists and it's by providing an extensive high quality segregated integrated cycle network, so that cyclists rarely need to use the roads. Compare that with our UK experience of a hotch-potch of mostly pathetic 'facilities', which are poorly 'designed' [if designed is the correct term]; go nowhere; are often sub-standard and commonly dangerous to use.

David's blog shows that the excuse of 'not enough room', is bogus using side by side comparison of comparable areas in the UK with Holland. If Holland can, so can we, if we have the will.

More power to Dr Roberts.. a lot of sense being spoken there

The inference in the article is that people using earpieces to listen to music diminishes or prevents a cyclist from hearing traffic travelling behind / overtaking them. Two thoughts:

1. liability in an accident between a cyclist and an overtaking motorist usually lies with the motorist (but is a small consolation if the rider is injured or killed);

2. what about cyclists who are deaf or hard of hearing? Perhaps these cyclists have a better perception of what is happening around them due to the loss of one of their senses but the same principle applies, i.e. they can't hear traffic either.

Maybe the hidden agenda of this part of the conference is to put young people off cycling ...