Audio books when driving?

bigadaj

boundy wrote: »

I recommend the Harry Potter books read by Stephen Fry, done the lot twice now

You've got to be 17 to drive in the uk.

Sagz_2

I listen to R4 Extra, lots of stories and plays as well as series and comedies.

walwyn1978

Podcasts and audiobooks here, plus 5 live at some times of the day depending on who the presenter is.

agrinnall

Head_The_Ball wrote: »

I would advise against listening to an audio book while driving.

I used to do that until the occasion when, during a dramatic part of the story, there came the loud sound effect of a storm.

I was so surprised that I dropped my mobile phone and spilled my coffee cup all over my lap which caused my knee to lose contact with the steering wheel and my car swerved all over the place.

I was lucky that I had already finished using my electric shaver.

Could have been worse, you might have been doing your mascara and stabbed yourself in the eye (and got extra bad luck from breaking the makeup mirror you were holding).

[Deleted User]

I always listen to audio books or podcasts. Never been an issue for me before, maybe give it ago on a short trip to the shops to try it out?

shopbot

I always listen to podcasts and really enjoy doing so.

LadyDee

I was behind another car in a queue of traffic a little while ago hardly moving, just stop/start, and the chap in front was using earphones. He was so engrossed in what he was listening to, he was absolutely oblivious to the sirens and blue lights behind us. Everybody in the queue from me backwards moved over to let the police car through, but he didn't move until everybody else started honking and shouting at him. The noise by now was deafening and he had the grace to look ashamed. The look he got from the Police was not nice!

Whether he was unaware of what was going on behind him because he was using earphones and he couldn't hear, or whether he was so wrapped up in his music or whatever I don't know, but it is a little worrying.

bigadaj

agrinnall wrote: »

Could have been worse, you might have been doing your mascara and stabbed yourself in the eye (and got extra bad luck from breaking the makeup mirror you were holding).

Which makes you owner what that poster was using the electric razor to do.......

bigadaj

LadyDee wrote: »

I was behind another car in a queue of traffic a little while ago hardly moving, just stop/start, and the chap in front was using earphones. He was so engrossed in what he was listening to, he was absolutely oblivious to the sirens and blue lights behind us. Everybody in the queue from me backwards moved over to let the police car through, but he didn't move until everybody else started honking and shouting at him. The noise by now was deafening and he had the grace to look ashamed. The look he got from the Police was not nice!

Whether he was unaware of what was going on behind him because he was using earphones and he couldn't hear, or whether he was so wrapped up in his music or whatever I don't know, but it is a little worrying.

I thought it was illegal to us headphones whilst driving but apparently not, would be covered by other sanctions of thought serious enough which should have been the case above by the sound of it.

Not good practice and I use a 2mm jack socket, which most modern cars have if not a usb or similar connection.

I don't think anyone is advocating the use of headphones above.

ukjoel

Spend 20 hours plus a week in the car and listen to them all the time now. Dont think I have turned the radio on since Wogans last show.

The audio books are on my phone and when I switch the engine on they start from the last point I was at. They are brilliant and make the journey a pleasure.

I occasionally pause it when doing central london driving as you need ninja focus and cat like reflexes at that point.