A cyclist killed in a crash while wearing headphones was found to be responsible for the fatal crash, with a warning now issued to other riders.
Cyclists should be wary of using headphones when riding their bikes after an inquest found a woman who died trying to avoid a truck on her bike probably did not hear it approach because she was listening to music.
Emily Norton (38) was adjudged to have caused her own death when she crashed and suffered head injuries as she encountered a truck at a roundabout.
- Gardai now have power to fine cyclists wearing earphones
- Dublin LUAS drivers want ban on cyclists using headphones
The case in England was unusual in that the precise reason she crashed and whether she was listening to music via the headphones she was wearing at the time were never determined.
However, evidence before Hull Coroner’s Court from family members confirmed she usually listened to music on her phone while cycling and also used a cycling app.
Advertisement
She entered a roundabout without looking right at around 7.40am on Flatgate in Howden, Yorkshire, on June 23rd last.
Witnesses said she was “riding purposefully” at the time before she wobbled on the bike as the truck reached her and fell to the side of the road. She fractured her skull and spinal cord and died instantly by the roadside.
Ms Norton, a hairdresser and mother of one, was not wearing a helme, though she normally did use one and her family could not understand why she did not have it on on the day in question.
Related News
She seemed unaware of the DAF HGV lorry until the last moment and while she crashed and died from her injuries, she was not hit by the truck.
Coroner for East Riding of Yorkshire Prof Paul Marks found that listening to music on her headphones may have contributed to the cyclist’s death.
He added the accident was avoidable and that Ms Norton had brought about her own tragic death.
“No charges have been brought against the HGV driver and he has been totally exonerated,” Prof Marks said.
"I cannot determine if she was on her iPhone listening with earphone at the time, but if she had been, it could have caused a distraction and could have contributed to the cause of the accident."
Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said Ms Norton’s front brake was defective and she may have pulled the rear brake and skidded, causing her to crash.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said hearing was important for cyclists in warning them of oncoming vehicles and it advised cyclists “not to wear headphones when riding”.
Cycling UK said it also believed the wearing of headphones was inadvisable for cyclists; especially if music was so loud it shut out the noise of vehicles.
However, the organisation said it had seen no evidence to suggest cyclists wearing headphones were “more of a problem” than pedestrians wearing them.
Topics
