You might have seen people using them in crowded buses, parks or even while at work. They are usually oblivious to their surroundings and are busy in their own world, with one hand fidgeting with their prized possession – mobile phones. We are talking about those people in your office or neighbourhood who constantly use earphones or headphones. In fact, one even is made to wonder if they were born with them. However, some new dangers of using these earphones, other than the usual hearing problems, have come to light of late. Some unfortunate ones have even lost their lives. Earlier this month in Delhi, a 21-year-old girl, who had her earphones on while crossing a road, was crushed to death after being hit by two vehicles. The Delhi incident is not a lone case. In fact, quite a few accidents have happened as a result of people, with earphones on, losing their attention. Dr V Muthukrishnan, consultant psychiatrist, Apollo Hospitals, agrees. He says, “It is definitely a distraction. When you have your earphones on and are listening to music or talking to someone, you are oblivious to the ambience around you. This is because you focus on what is happening at the other end. You are unable to make out the honking around you or the vehicles coming from the opposite side, and this may lead to accidents, which sometimes can even be fatal.”Compared to a mobile handset, earphones are more risky, because in the former, you know you’ve to cut the conversation short to concentrate on crossing the road or to drive a vehicle, he adds. But despite the pitfalls, most Chennaiites are of the view that earphones help one multitask. Subha, a media student, says, “I’ve to help my mother in household work. I need to use water for most such household chores. Using earphones helps me chat easily with my friends, while I complete the household chores simultaneously. My cell phone also does not get drenched and is therefore safe.”Others like TV anchor Hariharan, a self-confessed headphone addict, says that he takes the necessary precautions when attending to a call in traffic. “I always make sure that I park my vehicle in a corner of the road before attending a call,” he says. Most Chennaiites have no idea of the danger they are in as a result of using earphones while driving. However, in other countries, people are aware of the dangers associated with using it. In fact, it’s pretty common and laws have been put in place to restrict people from using earphones. For instance, in foreign cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, using ear or headphones is banned while riding a bicycle. But with no foolproof evidence to prove that earphones is a major reason for accidents in India, it will continue to be used on roads to have a great conversation with friends or loved ones. “Thanks to the earphones, it has made life easy for lovers. They can chat endlessly, without the discomfort of a handset straining their ears,” Subha adds.
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