This city has banned pedestrians from texting
A city in the US has become the first place in world to ban pedestrians from texting while crossing the road, with the law coming into effect tomorrow.
Honolulu, the capital city of Hawaii, will issue pedestrians $US35 for, “viewing electronic devices while crossing streets in the city and surrounding county”.
Other areas in the US have tried to enforce similar bans, but the Honolulu law is reportedly the first time this regulation has been enforceable by a fine.
“This is really milestone legislation that sets the bar high for safety,” Brandon Elefante, the City Council member who proposed the bill, told the New York Times.
Police in some Australian states can issue pedestrians fines if they are deemed to be walking “without consideration to other roads users”, but there is currently no legislation relating to the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.
Pedestrians crossing the road without paying attention is becoming a growing problem, according to a report by the World Health Organisation, which found pedestrians who text and walk are almost four times as likely to “engage in at least one dangerous action”. Distracted people also take 18 per cent more time to cross a road.
What are your thoughts? Should we install a similar law in Australia?
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