Incredibly Dangerous Activity is Completely Legal in Wisconsin

I've tried doing this activity while driving one time in my life and for some reason, it made me uncomfortable. I'm not exactly sure why but it does.

Maybe it has to do with not being able to hear sirens from emergency vehicles or not being able to hear other cars honking their horn. I'm not exactly sure why I hate doing this. If your car's speakers work, why would you want to wear headphones while driving?

This is one of those scenarios where just because you're legally allowed to wear headphones while driving, doesn't mean you should.

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According to Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm, Wisconsin is one state that has yet to enforce a no headphones while driving law. It is perfectly legal to jam out to the music on your iPhone, with headphones on, while driving.

Why You Shouldn't

If you want to talk on your cell phone or listen to your music while keeping both hands on the wheel, I understand. You probably believe you're being more safe by keeping both of your hands on the wheel. The issue is that wearing headphones while driving can limit what you hear inside or outside of your vehicle.

What happens if an emergency vehicle is near you and you don't see it? It could potentially be difficult to hear one if your headphones are cranked. What if a car is honking to alert drivers of an issue on the roadway? You can't see them honk their horn and your headphones could prevent you from hearing the horn.

What if there's an issue with your car's engine that you don't hear and you drive it into the ground? You could end up stranded and waiting on help for hours or days, depending on where you're at.

What about keeping motorcyclists safe? It can sometimes be difficult to see someone riding a motorcycle but most of the time, you can hear one near you. If you have your headphones on and they're blocking most of your hearing, you could potentially hit someone who is trying to enjoy an afternoon ride.

Sadly, if you're in a car and hit someone riding a motorcycle, they're much more likely to be seriously injured than you are, and I know you don't want that on your conscious.

Other States You Can Legally Wear Headphones

If you live in Wisconsin and take a road trip throughout the Midwest, there are a few states where it is illegal to wear headphones and you'll want to make sure you take them out. According to Statesman, Minnesota and Illinois, both prohibit wearing headphones while driving.

If you're driving through Iowa, Nebraska, Kanas, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, and North/South Dakota, you legally can wear your headphones if you choose.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. You should always use your eyes and ears to keep yourself and others safe on the roadways.