Road safety – Headphones and earphones prohibited while driving and on the handlebars –

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Headphones and earphones prohibited when driving and on the handlebars

Road safety - Headphones and earphones prohibited while driving and on the handlebars -

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announces that his plan to ban the use of all types of headphones while driving, announced in January, will officially come into effect on June 30, 2015. This ban will affect all drivers (cars and motorcycles) … but not in the same way. Explanations. 

The French Minister of the Interior, Bernard Cazeneuve, announces that his plan to ban the use of all types of headphones while driving, announced in, will officially come into force on June 30, 2015. This ban will affect all drivers (auto and motorbike) … but not in the same way. Explanations. 

End of "tolerance" … but not for everyone !

Among the "" announced by Mr. Cazeneuve at the beginning of the year to reduce road deaths – on the rise for the first time in 12 years last year -, the ban on headphones for phones had caused a stir. 

And also…

Among the other "new measures" which come into effect this summer, the increase in fines for inconvenient parking (from 35 to … 135 € !!!), the reduction to 0.2 g / l of blood ‘alcohol level authorized for young people allowed and the test for "two years" of the speed reduction from 90 to 80 km / h on certain departmental roads.

"Three to five" sections of road announced "accident prone" would be affected by this unpopular measure. Finally, the obligation for two-wheeled users to wear a retro-reflective vest in the event of an emergency (accident or breakdown) could be made compulsory before "the end of the month"..

Originally, this project aimed to eradicate one of the worst practices of modern drivers: take advantage of their journeys to make calls while driving, or even send texts, read emails or surf the Web..

"The massive use of the telephone while driving in recent years has had an impact on driving and causes a number of accidents, and we are going to show firmness in order to make drivers responsible", recalls Bernard Cazeneuve.

This "firmness" results in the cancellation, from June 30 according to our colleagues, of the current tolerance granted to owners of Bluetooth or wired headphones of the hands-free kit type sold with most cell phones. According to the ministry’s list, all devices "of the earphone, headset and headset type likely to limit both the attention and hearing of drivers" are concerned.. 

From this summer, using one of these accessories while driving will therefore be considered as making a phone call with the phone in your hand. The ministry was currently working on the amount and terms of the fine applied for the use of a telephone system with headsets. A priori, it is logical to think that this fine will be more or less equivalent to that for use of the telephone held in hand (135 € and withdrawal of 3 points). 

How to communicate on a motorcycle ?

In principle, everyone will agree that this is a laudable initiative, except probably the manufacturers of telephones … and users of two-wheelers. Because if this new measure prohibits the use of Bluetooth and wired headphones, it does allow the use of integrated systems linked to speakers – generally by Bluetooth – with fully voice commands (without handling the telephone, therefore), technology more and more widespread in automotive. 

This means that motorists will not be bothered for very long by this measure, unlike bikers and scooter riders who are unable to install such a device on their 2 or 3-wheeler! It’s not easy to fit a speaker on your motorcycle or scooter ‘…

However, many two-wheeled users currently use Bluetooth headsets not to make calls on the handlebars but to follow directions dictated by their GPS, listen to music or converse with their passenger. Also concerned are police bikers (!), But also motorcycle school instructors who use these devices to transmit their instructions to students..

Unless a dispensation is granted or certain types of equipment are finally tolerated on two-wheelers – two hypotheses which are not mentioned for the moment -, it will be necessary a priori to find another alternative as of this summer … A follow on MNC: stay connected !

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