(03 Apr 2026, 3:38 pm)Adrian wrote Are they any worse than any other distraction? Such as a toddler kicking and screaming for the entire journey, loud music in a car, or having a conversation with your front seat passenger? I guess this is why their use falls into the broad definition of driving without due care and attention, putting the onus on the driver to ensure that they are not distracted.
I wonder if they're also being used as hands-free access to a phone, say for in event of heavy traffic or road closures? Smaller operators tend not to have radios, so it'll be a phone call back to base to keep them updated, unless the Ticketer machines have been improved to a point they can now do this?
Even if it's for music, I wouldn't really have an issue as long as it's not detracting from the service provided to customers.
I was on a flight recently and had my noise cancelling ear buds in. Music wasn't particularly loud either.
Missed all the tannoy announcements and certainly couldn't hear my neighbour say 'excuse me' when they wanted to be passed me.
Would I be confident I could hear sirens or passengers if I was driving a bus? Not sure I would.