(04 Apr 2026, 12:37 pm)Adrian wrote We've gone from headphones to earphones and now to noise cancelling ear buds. There's a lot of speculation here, without anyone really knowing the actual details.
Personally when I've seen it, it's been a single ear bud in. That's something I can understand for the example I (and Dan) listed above.
If someone was driving a bus wearing noise cancelling ear buds/earphones/headphones, then that's completely unacceptable, and it would most certainly fall under a CD10 offence.
Lets hope the driver with the acceptable single ear bud, doesn't have noise cancelling or music playing and their hearing in the other ear is working to its full potential.
Of course, if the employer was to buy the driver a Bluetooth headset, not only would it remove any temptation to add the second ear bud, but it would probably provide a much better battery life, comfort and audio quality.
The drivers might look like Alan Partridge. But it would certainly remove any ambiguity that we have seen on this forum.
Years ago, I was given a company car and with that, a bluetooth headset - because the model of car, didn't have the call facilities that are pretty much standard now.
Worked a treat.