Traffic - Distraction as a cause of accidents: headphones are also a factor
Every week, accidents happen due to traffic participants being distracted. This can be a smartphone in hand or headphones blocking out alarm signals. In Hessisch Lichtenau (Werra-Meißner-District), there was recently a suspicion that headphones may have at least contributed to the serious accident of a cyclist. Headphones are not generally banned in road traffic. However, vehicle drivers must ensure that their hearing is not impaired and they can hear all important acoustic warnings and signals.
The police therefore urgently advise against wearing headphones. This also applies to pedestrians, as the police headquarters in Nordhessen announce: "Whoever wears headphones in road traffic takes, for example, environmental noises less well, which increases the risk of an accident," explains a spokesperson. In particular, vehicles with electric drive such as electric cars or electric scooters, which are increasingly on the roads, could be perceived poorly with headphones.
Last year, the police headquarters in Nordhessen recorded 292 accidents caused by distraction, compared to 320 the previous year and 260 the year before. The dark figure is likely to be very high, the spokesperson said. Because the proof is difficult: "If no indications of distraction as the cause of the accident are found, few affected parties report this to the police during the accident investigation by stating that they were distracted by using a smartphone or headphones."
Handy, Navi or Radio operation
In the statistics recorded are also distractions such as telephone calls without hands-free, operation of the radio or navigation system, operation of the mobile phone, intensive observation of landmarks, gawking at accident sites, picking up fallen objects, adjusting the heating, setting the exterior mirrors and distraction by children in the back seat.
Nationwide, according to statistics, there were 63 accidents with personal injury last year due to drivers or drivers using electronic devices. 522 other accidents with personal injury were registered due to other distractions. Calculations by Allianz from 2021 showed that cyclists have about half the increased risk of an accident if they wear headphones.
Statement on accident figures from the DVR State Office on headphones
- The recent accident in Hesse's Lichtenau, involving a cyclist, sparked suspicions that headphones might have contributed to the incident's severity.
- Despite not being universally banned in road traffic, headphone use can impair a driver's hearing, making it difficult to hear important acoustic warnings and signals.
- In response, the police in Nordhessen strongly advise against wearing headphones while on the road, cautioning that it increases the risk of accidents.
- Last year, the police headquarters in Nordhessen reported 292 accidents caused by distraction, with headphone usage likely being an underreported factor.
- Nationwide statistics show that 63 accidents with personal injury occurred due to drivers using electronic devices, while 522 other such accidents were caused by other distractions.
- Calculations by Allianz in 2021 suggest that cyclists wearing headphones have about half the increased risk of an accident compared to those who do not.
