26/05/2026
When it comes to driving you may think you know all of the rules and that you’re the world’s best driver.
However, there are some rules that even the most ardent of drivers didn’t realise could land you a fine or points on your licence.
Driving with headphones in
While there is no specific law that prevents you from using headphones while driving, you could still be issued a hefty fine if they are deemed to be distracting.
Police can charge you with driving without due care and attention or careless driving if you are involved in a collision and they deem you have been distracted by your headphones. The most common penalty for careless driving offences is a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points. But for more serious incidents, including if your case goes to court, the maximum punishment is £5,000 and nine points being added to your licence – or even a potential driving ban.
Breaches of the Highway Code under rules 66 and 148 are not technically punishable offences themselves, but may be taken into consideration when considering whether a motorist has been found guilty of an offence under the Road Traffic Act.
Experts advise using bluetooth to connect your phone to in-car audio systems, aux cables or utilising more traditional listening platforms like radio stations to avoid the safety risk. The latter removes the risk of using a mobile phone while at the wheel to change the music that they’re listening to, one way you could get a £200 fine and six penalty points for using a phone, sat nav, tablet while driving.
If you’re using your headphones in conjunction with your mobile phone, you could face a fine under the latest phone driving laws, which could see you fined £200 and six points added to your licence, according to the Express.