Is It Illegal To Wear Headphones While Driving In Canada?

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By Aren Mirzaian
First published on September 25, 2023

6 minute read

MyChoice follows a strict content review process designed to ensure reliable and unbiased information.

Article Contents

Driving with headphones is not illegal in most parts of Canada per se, but that doesn’t mean it can’t land you in a lot of trouble. 

Driving with Headphones in Canada at a Glance

  • Researchers say driving with headphones is dangerous because it reduces hearing and spatial awareness.
  • While most places don’t have strict laws prohibiting driving with headphones, many provinces and territories advise against it because of the risks involved. 
  • Getting caught driving with headphones can also impact your insurance rates.

Keep reading to learn how driving with headphones can affect you and why you’re better off tuning into your car’s radio (or putting up with a little silence) on your commute home.

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Why You Shouldn’t Drive with Headphones On

If you’ve ever been stuck behind the wheel for hours, then you’ll know that tuning into something — be it music or an engaging podcast — can be a real saving grace from boredom and sleepiness. But what if your stereo isn’t working? Or what if you want to kill time by getting on a call? Can you drive with headphones on?

As mentioned, it isn’t exactly illegal to use your headphones while driving. However, Canada is pretty strict about distracted driving — which includes the following acts while driving or stopped at a traffic light:

  • Texting, dialling a number, or browsing the web on your phone
  • Using electronic entertainment devices like tablets and handheld consoles
  • Watching videos
  • Programming a GPS (voice command is fine)
  • Listening to loud music

So, if you want to put on music, change a song, lower the volume, or take a call on your headphones, you risk getting charged with distracted driving. In fact, the only permissible use of a mobile device while driving is contacting 911. 

Distracted driving has been a major problem on Canadian roadways in recent years. The Canadian Automobile Association states that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of collisions, injuries, and deaths on the road. Drivers who drive distracted are believed to be eight times more likely to be in a car crash or near-crash event compared with non-distracted drivers. 

As such, distracted driving penalties can set you back anywhere between $600 to $3,000, depending on where you get caught. A distracted driving ticket could also lead to demerit points and license suspension for up to 30 days. 

Is It Illegal To Wear Headphones While Driving In Canada?

How Wearing Headphones Affects Driving

If you stay off your phone and avoid putting your headphones on and off throughout your entire drive, would it still affect how you drive? Research suggests that merely wearing headphones can lead to distracted driving. Outside of pulling your focus towards your mobile device, wearing headphones while driving can also:

Make You Miss Important Sound Cues

With headphones on, you could miss essential auditory cues such as other cars’ horns, crosswalk alarms, railroad crossing alarms, and sirens from emergency vehicles. Not being able to hear any of these sounds not only puts you at risk of injury but other people on the road as well. On top of this, you could get fined up to $2,000 if you’re caught refusing to pull over for emergency vehicles. 

Impact Spatial Awareness and Reaction Time

An experiment by Ford showed that wearing headphones affects drivers’ spatial awareness. Scientists found that drivers who listened to music through their headphones reacted 4.2 seconds slower than drivers who didn’t. These 4.2 seconds could mean the difference between reacting fast enough to avoid an oncoming car or getting caught in a head-on collision. 

Distracted Driving Laws by Province and Territory

Here’s a brief overview of headphone and distracted driving laws across Canada: 

Alberta doesn’t have any specific laws about driving with headphones on. Still, it is one of the strictest provinces when it comes to distracted driving. Drivers are prohibited from doing the following activities behind the wheel — even when stopped at a red light:

  • Talking, texting, or browsing on a mobile device
  • Using a laptop, video game console, camera, handheld audio player or similar electronic device
  • Inputting information on a GPS
  • Reading and writing
  • Sketching
  • Personal grooming such as clipping nails, shaving, and applying makeup

In BC, drivers are only allowed to wear one headphone or earphone — and can only do so to take or make calls. Wearing headphones to listen to music is illegal in British Columbia. Motorcyclists, however, can wear an earpiece in both ears.

Aside from this, BC drivers are not permitted to:

  • Hold or operate a handheld device, including a phone, tablet, or laptop
  • Watch the screen of any handheld device
  • Drive with a smartphone on their lap
  • Wear earphones even when the phone is turned off

Using a handheld device while driving is illegal in Manitoba. Just like in BC, drivers in Manitoba can only drive with one earphone on. 

New Brunswick doesn’t have specific rules about driving with headphones on. The province does have a zero-tolerance policy on texting and driving and strictly forbids making and taking calls (unless if you’re using the hands-free function or dialling 911), operating a GPS with your hands, and holding handheld devices like audio players and tablets.

Newfoundland and Labrador don’t have specific laws about driving with headphones on. As with the other provinces and territories on this list, Newfoundland and Labrador prohibit holding and operating a handheld device while driving. 

There are no headphone laws in the Northwest Territories. The use of handheld electronic devices has been banned in the Northwest Territories since 2012. 

Nova Scotia does not have laws regarding wearing headphones while driving. Texting and making calls on a handheld device are strictly forbidden, except in emergencies.

Unlike the other places on this list, Nunavut does not have formal penalties for distracted driving. However, you could face a $115 fine for careless driving if you’re caught texting while driving.

The Ontario government allows drivers to use a hands-free wireless device with a single earpiece. Lapel buttons and Bluetooth devices are also permitted. 

Under Ontario’s distracted driving laws, drivers cannot do the following from behind the wheel:

  • Operate mobile devices, tablets, gaming consoles, laptops, etc.
  • Watch videos on display screens
  • Program a GPS (voice command is okay)

In Prince Edward Island, “Stage 1” and “newly licensed” drivers are not allowed to use headphones while driving. All drivers are prohibited from using a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, video game console, or GPS while driving.

In Quebec, you can be fined up to $200 if you’re caught wearing headphones in both ears while operating a vehicle. Quebec’s laws restrict drivers from doing the following while driving:

  • Operate and hold a handheld device, even while stopped at a red light
  • View a display screen that shows anything other than information related to operating the vehicle

Saskatchewan law allows “experienced” drivers to use wired headphones while driving. New drivers are not permitted. 

Certain behaviours fall under their “driving without due care” laws, including:

  • Operating a GPS
  • Reading maps
  • Interacting with pets
  • Interacting with passengers
  • Eating and drinking
  • Smoking
  • Personal grooming

Yukon does not have specific laws regarding driving with headphones. Drivers in Yukon are not allowed to hold or operate a handheld electronic device from behind the wheel unless they’re safely and legally parked or not obstructing traffic.

Will Driving with Headphones Affect Your Insurance Rates?

Insurance companies are all about mitigating risks — that’s why they look into your driving record and claims history when calculating your premiums and determine fault when processing claims. The more traffic violations and accidents you have on record, the higher the likelihood that you’ll get flagged as a high-risk driver and face higher insurance rates in the future. High-risk drivers are also in danger of having their policies cancelled and getting rejected by certain companies altogether. 

If you’re caught driving with headphones in a province or territory where it’s strictly prohibited, you could see changes in your insurance rates. If you get into an accident while wearing them, your insurer may also deny your claim — even if you’re not at fault. This is because, as previously mentioned, earphones are known to impair one’s ability to hear and react quickly on the road. 

How to Listen to Music Safely While Driving

As a driver, you have a responsibility to keep yourself, your passengers, and other people on the road safe. If you want to listen to music safely while driving, follow these tips:

  • Before driving off, set your playlist or podcast so you don’t have to touch your phone or music player
  • Use Bluetooth to connect your phone or music player to your car’s sound system to avoid having to control your device manually
  • Set up voice command on your phone and car GPS to avoid having to pick your phone up or manually program your GPS while driving
  • Program your GPS and review the directions before heading out
  • Keep the volume low so you can still hear environmental sounds
  • Avoid listening to fast-paced music that could make you drive faster, whether consciously or unconsciously

Key Advice From MyChoice

  • Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents in Canada, so stay focused while driving and avoid any activities that could potentially distract you.
  • If you want to listen to music while driving, forgo the headphones. Try your car’s built-in sound system or use Bluetooth speakers instead. 
  • Make sure to check your province or territory’s distracted driving laws, as penalties and regulations vary significantly across Canada.
By Aren Mirzaian

With over a decade in Canada’s insurance sector, Aren is a leading voice in the industry, providing thought leadership on auto insurance, underwriting innovation, and how technology is reshaping insurance.

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