Can I be fined for playing loud music in my car?
You’re driving down Jetty Road at Glenelg and a hit tune comes on the radio. Without hesitation, you crank up the music to the maximum volume and start singing along.
The music is so loud that the entire street knows what song you’re listening to, and you’re unable to hear anything happening outside of the car, whether it’s sirens from an ambulance or somebody honking the horn.
Playing deafening music in your car might seem harmless, but have you broken the law? Potentially.
While there isn’t a specific rule in South Australia that says you can be fined for playing loud music, there is an offence for ‘emitting excessive noise from a vehicle’.
According to the rule, police can stop anybody driving a vehicle that’s making excessive noise from sound equipment or other devices. What’s excessive? Noise that’s unreasonably disturbing people near the vehicle.
Drivers playing excessively loud music from their vehicle can be issued a written warning to turn it off immediately. If the motorist ignores the warning, they can then be fined up to $1250.
Could loud music put you at risk?
Not only could you be disturbing the peace, with the loud music you’re playing, but you could also be putting you and other road users at risk.
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says loud music can reduce your awareness of your surroundings.
Apart from reducing your awareness of what’s happening around you, listening to loud music for long periods in a confined space can cause long-term hearing loss.
“You may not hear sirens from emergency vehicles, horns from other drivers or level crossing warnings,” Charles says.
“It could also put vulnerable road users at risk if you can’t hear a cyclist’s bell, or the music may drown out the sound of motorcycles lane filtering.
“It’s best to keep your music at a reasonable level so you can still hear what’s going on around you.”