© theideaforge.comOblivion of texting, the fine art of not paying attention.
Using your cellphone while crossing a street could become illegal in New Jersey, US, with violators facing
either a $50 fine or a 15 days incarceration, thanks to one enthusiastic lawmaker. "If a person on the road - whether walking or driving - presents a risk to others on the road, there should be a law in place to dissuade and penalize risky behavior," Pamela Lampitt, Democratic Assemblywoman, who sponsored the bil
l - which was introduced on Monday - told local media.
She claims that with more people becoming distracted by their evolving gadgets, laws managing their use have to follow. "Distracted pedestrians, like distracted drivers, present a potential danger to themselves and drivers on the road. A pedestrian distracted by their device and unaware of oncoming traffic may cause unsuspecting drivers to brake suddenly or swerve out of the way, creating a potentially deadly situation," Lampitt is quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, experts have been citing links between distracted walking and pedestrian injury for some time now. According to a
study by Corey Basch, associate professor of public health at William Patterson University, based on observing the behavior of some 21,000 pedestrians at five busy Manhattan intersections,
"it came as a surprise that there were so many pedestrians distracted by technology during the walk signal, but the fact that there were even more distracted by technology crossing on a 'don't walk' signal is astonishing. It's clearly a public health concern".
Comment: America it's time to confront our toxic legacy