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iPod fans riding for a fall  

Motorists and cyclists are causing accidents as a result of being plugged into their iPod music players while using the roads, according to a report in Scotland on Sunday last week.

The digital players are one of the consumer sensations of the decade and the article said that evidence is growing that many drivers and cyclists are concentrating more on music than on the rules of the road.

Research carried out in the USA recently suggests a significant number of traffic accidents involve distraction by electronic gadgets, and one UK accident expert has warned that dozens of road users are being injured or killed as a result of MP3 mania.

It is currently not a specific offence to ride a bike or even drive a car while wearing headphones, although police have prosecuted in cases where they believed an accident was caused by listening to a music player.

"Drivers wearing earphones or changing tracks on digital music players are increasingly having bumps or some kind of accident," said Sue Nicholson, head of RAC Foundation campaigns.

A spokeswoman for RoSPA said it was also concerned by the phenomenon: "We advise motorists and cyclists not to listen to these devices with earphones - concentration is a key factor in many accidents. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to traffic and need to ensure that they are fully aware of their surroundings."

For the full article visit: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1887112005

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