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Is it legal to wear headphones while driving in Sweden?

What the Swedish rules on phones and communication equipment say, and what they do not mention.

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Short answer

None of the pages checked from Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Police and the Traffic Ordinance mention headphones for drivers, so there is no explicit rule to quote. The general rules still apply: a driver must keep attention on traffic, must not hold a phone in the hand and must not use communication equipment in a way that affects driving dangerously.

Driving and road rules in Sweden Illustration of a car on a forest road with a moose warning sign and a car key

Why

  1. Transportstyrelsen says a driver must be alert and keep their eyes on the traffic, and therefore may not use communication equipment in a way that affects driving dangerously.
  2. According to the Swedish Police, a driver may not hold phone or other communication equipment in the hand while driving.
  3. Transportstyrelsen says it cannot say in advance where the line goes for what is allowed, and that the courts decide what counts as hand-held equipment.

Details

Transportstyrelsen's page on mobile phone rules and the Swedish Police page on mobile use do not mention headphones, and the text of the Traffic Ordinance read for this answer does not either. Because the authority says it cannot draw the line in advance, a driver who wears headphones has no written rule to rely on. For other road rules, see driving and road rules in Sweden.

Tip

If you need calls or navigation, plan the route before you leave. Transportstyrelsen says hands-free is not a requirement, and that the car's own technology may be used if it does not affect your driving negatively.

What may differ

Holding a phone or other communication equipment in the hand while driving a motor vehicle is not allowed, according to the Swedish Police. That is a separate rule from the question of headphones.

People also ask

  • Can you drive with headphones in Sweden?
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Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Transportstyrelsen before you travel.

Driving and road rules in Sweden
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