German, Spain and GPS
 

I read on another forum that it is illegal in Germany and Spain to have an earphone in your helmet connected to your Satnav when on your motorbike. Does anyone know if this is true? Or is it an urban legend?

No, this is not true. In some (most?) helmets there is a kind of cavity next to the ears in order to fit earphones with velcro.

Hans

I was hoping You'd say that. :) I've been using satnavs for years with speakers in my helmet, but another website was claiming it was illegal and I thought maybe I'd been breaking the law in Germany. I wasn't looking forward to learning to read maps all over again. ;)

We are spanish.
In Spain is ABSOLUTELY ILLEGAL to wear an earphone, sticked with velcro to your helmet or placed in you ear, it doesn't matter wherever is connected to. The only bikers allowed to do so are the policemen.

Anyway if the police stops you, they may understand that you are foreigners and you don't know that the earphone allowed in your country is forbidden in Spain. They may, or they may not. In case of doubt, say that you don't understand anything in Spanish! :innocent: :Beach:

Thanks for the Information. I don't think I'd try my luck, I'd just leave the earphones off :)

We find anyway this law absolutely stupid. Spain has some of the worst motorcycle rider mortality rates abroad and also is the second country in Europe to ban earphones.
It seems this law has nothing to do to improve the mortality rates! :(

Which other country has this law?

I have heard that earphones placed into your ear are forbidden in Germany, but you can wear them if they are sticked to your helmet in such cavity. But maybe better if someone else with a better knowledge of German laws would clear this question...
Lots of spanish riders use to conceal among their clothing the wires of their helmet communicators anyway!

I've always wondered about the legality of riding with headphones and how the laws differ around Europe. I know that in the UK at least I've been stopped several times and have never had any comments made about using headphones whilst riding... :)

the second country one might be Germany .... there is no law that forbids (explicitly) wearing earphones ... but if you put them in both ears you might not be able to hear traffic noises and most of all the horns from the ambulances, firebrigades and policecars ...
and if you are not able to hear this sounds its illegal to wear earphones .... so the question is: are the earphones blocking all the noises from the street ???

but I don´t know if there was ever a case when wearing Earphones was a problem in an policecontrol in good old germany .... just tell them, that the earphones you are wearing are made to block the wind-noises and to protect your hearing ... but this might not work if the bloke from the police drove 10 minutes behind you - all horns blowing - and desperately trying to pass you .... :oops2:



Greets

Michael

Yep, this sounds like Germany: you aren't allowed to use ear plugs to save your ears. But, if you were an employee having to ride a bike all day then health regulation probably would force you to wear them, because of the constant wind noise...

I believe we even have a rule saying how much water you must flush down the toilet every time...

Hi,

In Germany its not allowed to have two plugs in your ear while riding (bike or car doesnt matter). One Plug is no problem.

Regards from Germany, Tobi