Is it Legal to Drive With Headphones in US ?

No, it is not Legal to Drive With Headphones in the US.

There is no single federal law addressing headphones while driving in the US. Individual states determine their own regulations, leading to three categories:

• States Where It’s Illegal: Several states, like Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, completely ban headphones/earbuds while driving with limited exceptions (e.g., emergency personnel).
• States With Restrictions: Some states, like Illinois, allow only single-sided headsets or earpieces.
• States Where It’s Legal: Several states, currently have no specific laws prohibiting headphone use while driving. States, like Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Deleware, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennesee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Important Note: Even where legal, safety experts strongly discourage wearing headphones while driving. Studies consistently show that it impairs reaction times and reduces awareness, increasing accident risk.

For reference AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety highlights the dangers of distracted driving, which includes headphone use, even if not explicitly illegal in a given state.

Note: The information provided is sourced from various websites and collected data; if discrepancies are identified, kindly reach out to us through comments for prompt correction.