Updated: March 25, 2016 — 9:55 PM EDT
 |
A
report released in 2015 by the Governors Highway Safety Association
found an increase in pedestrian fatalities, and cited texting while
walking as partly to blame.
|
by Melanie Burney, Staff Writer
"Here is another reason to take a break
from texting or talking on your smartphone while walking in New Jersey: a
possible $50 fine.
"A bill proposed this week by Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt (D., Camden) would impose a fine of up to $50 and possibly 15 days in jail for pedestrians caught using their cellphones without hands-free devices while walking on public sidewalks and along roadways.
"If the bill becomes law, 'petextrians' - people who text while walking - would face the same penalties as jaywalkers in New Jersey.
"'I see it every single day,' Lampitt said Friday. 'Maybe they will think twice about it.'
"A report released in 2015 by the Governors Highway Safety Association found an increase in pedestrian fatalities, and cited texting while walking as partly to blame.
"Since 2009, pedestrian fatalities have increased by 15 percent to 4,735 in 2013, the report said. Nearly two million pedestrian injuries were related to cellphone use, the report said.
"Another study, from Safe Kids Worldwide, a Washington-based nonprofit, found that 40 percent of teens said they had been hit or nearly hit by a car, bike, or motorcycle while walking.
"The survey of more than 1,000 children between ages 13 and 18 found that 47 percent of those who said they were hit or almost hit were listening to music, 20 percent were talking on the phone, and 18 percent were texting, researchers said.
"Researchers say distracted walkers are more likely to ignore traffic lights or fail to look both ways before crossing the street."
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20160326_Will_cellphone_use_while_walking_be_banned_in_N_J__.html
"A bill proposed this week by Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt (D., Camden) would impose a fine of up to $50 and possibly 15 days in jail for pedestrians caught using their cellphones without hands-free devices while walking on public sidewalks and along roadways.
"If the bill becomes law, 'petextrians' - people who text while walking - would face the same penalties as jaywalkers in New Jersey.
"'I see it every single day,' Lampitt said Friday. 'Maybe they will think twice about it.'
"A report released in 2015 by the Governors Highway Safety Association found an increase in pedestrian fatalities, and cited texting while walking as partly to blame.
"Since 2009, pedestrian fatalities have increased by 15 percent to 4,735 in 2013, the report said. Nearly two million pedestrian injuries were related to cellphone use, the report said.
"Another study, from Safe Kids Worldwide, a Washington-based nonprofit, found that 40 percent of teens said they had been hit or nearly hit by a car, bike, or motorcycle while walking.
"The survey of more than 1,000 children between ages 13 and 18 found that 47 percent of those who said they were hit or almost hit were listening to music, 20 percent were talking on the phone, and 18 percent were texting, researchers said.
"Researchers say distracted walkers are more likely to ignore traffic lights or fail to look both ways before crossing the street."
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20160326_Will_cellphone_use_while_walking_be_banned_in_N_J__.html
You can't fix stupid.
it amazes me how oblivious people are when on their phones (like all the time...) scary
ReplyDeleteI have to admit to laughing when I see some of them falling into pools and such. That being said, you can't go anywhere anymore without seeing someone on the phone. Especially the young.
ReplyDeleteDrives me crazy in the grocery store when instead of paying for the groceries, they are too busy yakking it up.
The only time I give a pass is when I can tell they are calling home to see if they have something or need to buy it.