How dumb can you get, beware crossing the road while wearing your headphones!!!

iPod headphones - Be aware of your surroundings
April 10, 2008 2:45pm CST
I had to go out this afternoon, and while driving along our high street I pulled up at a set of traffic lights to allow pedestrians to cross at the crossing. The lights turned green and I pulled away and began to accelerate up the road. Suddenly a guy stepped straight into the road in front of me, totally oblivious to the fact that there was heavy traffic. He was wearing a set of headphones and singing away to whatever was playing on his personal stereo. Thank goodness I have good brakes, and that the car behind me also had good brakes. But the guy with the headphones simply stared at me, then continued to amble across the road, in front of the traffic driving along the opposite side. I pulled away and drove home, shaking, I could have killed the guy and it would have been deemed as my fault, despite the fact that he simply walked right in front of me. Do you listen to your iPod or personal stereo while you are walking down the road? Please, THINK, you can't hear the traffic, you don't look what you are doing or where you are going. Are you aware of what is going on around you?
5 people like this
16 responses
@Eacync54 (86)
• United States
11 Apr 08
i turn my ipod off or lower the volume when crossing the road. You never know when sometime can happen. That's a dangerous thing to do because your hearing is block and sll your attention is on the music.
2 people like this
11 Apr 08
I'm glad you are more sensible than some people hun, it only takes a second of inattention to cause an accident
• United States
11 Apr 08
but im not sentitive....
• United States
11 Apr 08
oh lol sorry , i thought you meant sentitive.....
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
11 Apr 08
I've never been able to understand why people have to do this. I have also seen cyclists with headphones on, whilst riding their cycles on the roads. It must be highly dangerous... at least as dangerous as using a mobile phone whilst you're driving. So, why isn't there a law against wearing them either when on a cycle, or on a busy road or sidewalk? The sad thing about it all is that it would probably be the car driver who ended up most hurt, in both instances, if they hit the person, let alone that they would be prosecuted. Brightest Blessings, my friend.
@Darkwing (21583)
11 Apr 08
They certainly are. I mean, personal stereos are ok in the park, or when riding a bus or train, but there should be some sort of limitation on them, I feel.
2 people like this
11 Apr 08
Very true hun, cyclists with their headphones on are just as bad. I've seen cyclists ride through red lights, pull across the traffic and often they are totally unaware of their surroundings.
1 person likes this
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
10 Apr 08
I do allot of walking for fitness and I wanted to use my ipod or similar but it is so dangerous. Love music but it takes you into a world of your own and means your attention is not being aware of important things like a car about to hit you! I no longer use one and prefer to smell the roses and look at peoples gardens. It's safer.
2 people like this
11 Apr 08
You make a valid point hun, music is wonderful and I love my music, but it does distract and you can easily get lost and lose concentration on your surroundings.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Apr 08
let's just hope mr.headphone guy doesn't cross the street while mr.cellphone guy is driving. that is crazy to be so oblivious to traffic like that.i see it all the time local,i'm surprised there isn't more fatalities.
11 Apr 08
Hun, I can't believe just how dumb some people are on the roads, yet it happens every day. On our high street we have two sets of lights with crossings, yet this idiot walked directly into the road, well away from the crossing and totally oblivious.
2 people like this
• United States
11 Apr 08
uff..he'll probably get hit sooner or later,headphones or no..
2 people like this
• United States
10 Apr 08
LOL he's lucky you were paying attention! WHY would he ever just cross a road without looking?! Didn't his mother tell him to look both ways? I rely on my eyes AND ears if I'm walking across the street so no, if I were wearing headphones and crossing a street, I'm pretty sure I'd be a rhapsody pancake in 3 seconds flat. have a good one goth :)
2 people like this
10 Apr 08
He could so easily be in hospital tonight, or maybe even in the morgue - idiot. :-( I wouldn't want to make a rhapsody pancake - LOL
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Apr 08
I walk with headphones on when I am on my way to set up for the volunteer work I do on Thursday mornings. But I always make sure I stop and look. I mean it kind of dumb not to. You can't hear them, and they dont watch what they are doing as well(If they are on cell phones talking or texting.) I make sure it is clear before I take a step off of the sidewalk.
2 people like this
• United States
10 Apr 08
I've only done it on a few occassions but my headphones are never so loud I can't hear anything. I make sure to be extra careful and pay more attention whenever I'm wearing them. No sense in taking any chances.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
15 Apr 08
I really have trouble understanding people who do that. Or at least the ones that are oblivious to the fact that they're so into the music - or whatever they're listening to - that they are not paying proper attention to the rest. I am always quite aware of what's around me when it comes to traffic and crossing streets, due to the fact that once - many, many years ago - I found myself in a situation where the possibilities were being run over by a car, a bus or fall down a bridge. Thankfully they had good brakes too, but ever since I am really careful when crossing and making sure I pay attention.
15 Apr 08
Thank goodness you were ok hun, that experience must have been a scary way to learn.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
16 Apr 08
But a worthy lesson, believe me :)
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Apr 08
I wear my headphones to my CD player every time I go outside, unless its just to the baby sitters, which is a few houses up the street. I also live near two very heavily trafficked streets, both of which I have to cross if I am going to the local store or further. That being said, even though I love to listen to the highest level, and sing right along with the music, I always pay attention to what is going on on the street with my eyes. When it comes time to cross the first street, which I seldom do at the cross walk, I go the the highest point of the street, so I can see in both directions what is coming. I wait until there is a break in traffic going North, and cross to the median, then I wait on the traffic going South, then get to the sidewalk. The only reason I do it this way is because during the day there is seldom a break in both directions. At the other major road, there is an intersection with a walk light. I usually wait for it to change, but sometimes I just go with the traffic. I am still alert to what is going on, because I am not the Incredible Hulk, nor Superman. I can't put my hand out and stop the car. This guy had something more wrong than just the headphones in his ears. Yes hearing can be used to navigate traffic, but the first sense that is used is the eyes!!! There is no reason why this guy shouldn't have been watching what was going on, headphones or not.
1 person likes this
11 Apr 08
This idiot was walking, headphones on and head down, he could have been fiddling around with his iPod or CD player, but simply not looking or listening. Keep safe on the roads hun :-)
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Apr 08
Gawd that was dumb. I always set my CD player to random and fix the volume and bass before I get started walking. I know where the track skip button is, so I don't have to look to use it. When I do have to look at my CD player to do something, I stop, do what I have to do, then continue. Makes no sense to step out into the street without looking, none!
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
17 Apr 08
Hello there recycledgoth, I have had the same kind of experience like you as well and that makes me really angry at those kinds of pedestrian who are simply irresponsible. I think that there should be some kind of punishment penalty for these kinds of pedestrians because they just do not know what it's like to be behind the vehicle and exercising caution all the way. Sorry to hear about your bad experience and hope that it will never happen to you again. Have a nice day there. Take care, friend.
17 Apr 08
Thanks for your kind words hun,
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
17 Apr 08
You are welcome, ;)
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Wow, that's pretty scary. I would have been shaken up too. I don't know what it is, but some people can only concentrate on one thing at a time and yes, they are a danger to themselves! I can be holding a conversation with my husband, typing here, checking email, listening to music, etc, all at the same time and I'm paying attention to all of them. I can crochet, watch TV and talk with my husband at the same time, and none of those activities suffer. Some have to tune everything else out to pay attention to one thing or they can't concentrate. Those people have no business wearing headphones or talking on a cell phone when they are doing something else (like walking into traffic!)
2 people like this
@naseefu (1607)
• India
23 Apr 08
It is very dangerous to wear headphone while walking on the road.We can see some two wheelers also using the same or the mobile phone while driving.It should be prohibit and fined by police.They causes many accedents not only to them,but also to others also.Thanks
1 person likes this
23 Apr 08
Thanks for your comments
@TinaP40 (329)
• Spain
11 Apr 08
If I put my ipod on which is really occassionally then I only ever have one headphone in so I can listen to what is going on around me. Sometimes kids just done think when they have the spice girls blarring out they cant hear anything.
@jamie08 (430)
• United States
11 Apr 08
i used to walk around with headphones on. But i always turned it on mute or took them out when i got to an intersection. Maybe he thought he had a 6th sense or something and could feel if traffic was coming without looking!
1 person likes this
11 Apr 08
I was so shocked that he just stepped straight into the road, didn't look, didn't take any notice of what was around him. Some people really are an accident waiting to happen.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
11 Apr 08
i know my daughter is guilty of this, but i hope that she doesnt listen to it when she is walking or at the very least, has it turned down low enough that she can hear the traffic going by.
1 person likes this
11 Apr 08
I do hope your daughter is sensible hun, perhaps it might be a timely reminder if you mention the dangers to her.
11 Apr 08
I don't listen to my iPod while walking. If I did I'd always pause or turn it down if I was near traffic. It's just stupid really. If something had happened to him I bet he would have blamed the driver, and accepted no responsibility.
1 person likes this
11 Apr 08
Yes, if I had hit him it would have been my fault and I could easily have been prosecuted. Some people really have no idea do they.