Earphone policies for Train Drivers

[axlecounter]

I’d be dead in a week if I couldn’t listen to music while driving! Not that it is officially allowed here, but it isn’t specifically prohibited, unlike the use of private cellphones.

 

[LowLevel]

Freight and passengers TOCs tend to have very different views on technology in the cabs. On my TOC any electrical device switched on in the cab with the exception of an assessors ipad is banned. Freight drivers can spend hours hanging around in loops etc and so generally speaking seem to be allowed to do pretty much as they wish - they might be watching a movie on a tablet or cooking dinner on the stove.

 

[E_Reeves]

Freight drivers can spend hours hanging around in loops etc and so generally speaking seem to be allowed to do pretty much as they wish - they might be watching a movie on a tablet or cooking dinner on the stove.

Sounds rather cosy!

 

[ainsworth74]

If the train radio goes off it cuts out the AM/FM/CD/MP3 and goes through the speakers.

Which is exactly how I thought such a system would work. If the GSMR were to go off then it cuts out the music and similarly any other cab warnings such as AWS would also play over the top of the music. If my phone can work out to pause Spotify when a phone call comes in then...

 

[whhistle]

Cars don't tend to make many important noises when driving, but trains do.

Ah ha!
But many cars do.
Mine beeps when it drops to a certiain temperature. It beeps to tell me there's a fault too.

Plus, with a car, I'd consider it more dangerous.
The amount of people I see wearing headphones not hearing other car horns (an MOT requirement remember!), or even emergency vehicle sirens, and thus driving in the way of ambulences because they're unaware of the vehicles presence.

If a train runs a red light, it'll stop by itself. A car isn't like that.

Even more interestingly, I'd challenge the statement "the radio increases concentration" as I, and many others, turn the radio down when parking in an effort to concentrate more.

 

[DarloRich]

were they ear phones or ear defenders? I am sure the FOC will offer defenders for the engine room. Could they have been they type that look like ear phones rather than the big "cans"

 

[ComUtoR]

Plus, with a car, I'd consider it more dangerous. The amount of people I see wearing headphones not hearing other car horns (an MOT requirement remember!), or even emergency vehicle sirens, and thus driving in the way of ambulences because they're unaware of the vehicles presence.

I have a relatively new car. Cabin noise is reduced because its got sound proofing. There is quite a large amount of road noise I do not hear. With my music playing, I regularly miss sirens and car horns. If I really cranked up the volume I'd hear even less.

If a train runs a red light, it'll stop by itself. A car isn't like that.

If the TPWS trips. Many signals aren't fitted with TPWS.

 

[Lucan]

There are currently no restriction on driving a car while being deaf so I don't see how earphones or extremely loud music through the car speakers are any different. In my experience I have seen the emergency services long before actually hearing them.

Maybe you see them (as I do - I maybe look in my mirrors too much) but I usually hear them first as the blues are often obscured behind vans or buildings. But the first sentence of yours might explain why I so often see a police car on the motorway stuck behind an oblivious driver in the outer lane despite the sirens and blues.

 

[Steve Harris]

In my experience I have seen the emergency services long before actually hearing them. Use your mirrors and take care at junctions and there won't be an issue.

Like you i do tend to spot them before hearing them, especially at this time of year. Unfortunately you and me seem to be in a minority, as on a regular basis i see drivers not realise a emergency vehicle is there until it is right up their exhaust pipe!

 

[BestWestern]

Like you i do tend to spot them before hearing them, especially at this time of year. Unfortunately you and me seem to be in a minority, as on a regular basis i see drivers not realise a emergency vehicle is there until it is right up their exhaust pipe!

To be fair, the emergency services - with the possible exception of the fire service, but that might just be my personal perception - appear now to have adopted a policy of using sirens as little as they possibly can, with the result that they frequently come screaming up to a junction, roundabout etc, in broad daylight when flashing lights aren't particularly effective, and blast the siren at the last possible moment. This does absolutely nothing but cause mass confusion and panic, and significantly delays how long it takes everyone to move out of the way! When driving on anything other than an empty road at night time, the siren should be on all the time IMHO.

 

[class 9]

Just to put the record straight. The Driver will have been wearing noise cancelling ear defenders, they have adjustable volume control, you can still hear AWS, viligilance etc.
They are issued by the company and are made by Peltor.

 

[Chris M]

To be fair, the emergency services - with the possible exception of the fire service, but that might just be my personal perception - appear now to have adopted a policy of using sirens as little as they possibly can, with the result that they frequently come screaming up to a junction, roundabout etc, in broad daylight when flashing lights aren't particularly effective, and blast the siren at the last possible moment. This does absolutely nothing but cause mass confusion and panic, and significantly delays how long it takes everyone to move out of the way! When driving on anything other than an empty road at night time, the siren should be on all the time IMHO.

I understand that there are very complicated rules about when and where a siren should be used, factoring in things like noise pollution as well as awareness of road users and how prominent the lights are (for obvious reasons they are easier to notice at night), but it basically boils down to "use the siren only when necessary".
One issue that seems only partially understood is the use of different siren types. The long, whooping noises are best for general awareness as the sound travels a long distance but because it's a narrow frequency band and often echoes it can be hard to pinpoint the source of the noise. In contrast a much broader spectrum noise travels less far but is much easier to place. This is the principle behind the white noise reversing alarms, which can be much quieter than a traditional beeping noise (although some do generate a single, louder beep at the start for general awareness as unless you're listening for it a white noise alarm can blend into the background.)
Also, if multiple vehicles are travelling together, each should use a different tone to assist motorists who may not realise that there is more than one. In my experience this happens about 80% of the time.
I don't know how much emergency service drivers actually get trained in these things though, and I've unfortunately lost contact with the person I used to ask about such things.