Taxi driver wearing noise cancelling headphones while driving in the city

[u/BiteInfamous]

Look I’m PMSing so I’m admittedly in a very nit picky time of my life. But. Don’t love weaving in and out of traffic in a major city while the taxi driver has noice cancelling headphones on. The sound is loud enough I can hear whatever (moderately funny) comedy show he’s listening to in the backseat. This is ill advised, yes?

ETA thanks to everyone who taught me about transparent mode today :)

ETA2 : Okay, I’m the asshole, comments have shown me there’s lots that could be going on with the driver to make him need to use these and there’s way he could do so safely. Mea culpa. That’ll teach me to knee jerk react.

[u/Plastic-Mess5760]

We do not know why they wear headphones and what effects it has. I would ask the driver if they can drive safely with it on.

If I can sit here and imagine all the reasons why someone would wear headphones include:

- Transparency mode is on, so all can be heard. Not every headphone is noise canceling only.

- They need it for some reason: covers an ear injury, reduce noise that they are sensitive to, being able to play music for guests that they don’t want to hear, or to hear something that doesn’t bother guests (some guests can select quiet ride, and if driver needs some noise, then this headphone makes sense)

Obviously, they can abuse this and actually just noise canceling only and jamming music like crazy. If that’s against the law, then bring that up. If that’s not against the law and they can drive safely, then I don’t see issue.

I don’t assume malicious intent from service workers. This is their livelihood and they are not messing around with it

[u/swidboy → u/Plastic-Mess5760]

Not only that, people miss understand noise cancelling vs noise isolating. Only repetitive low frequency is easily cancelled, sudden noises like speaking and honking could very well pass through just fine.

[u/blue60007 → u/Plastic-Mess5760]

Yeah, I've ridden in enough ride shares to think this is pretty low on the list of worries. I've had aggressive drivers, drivers looking at their phones the entire time, constantly looking at me in the mirror while talking, one that hadn't slept in 36 hours (by his own admission). If he's being observant, not staring at a phone, not impaired, I'll take it over half the other drivers I've had.