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While America eagerly awaits for Washington to end a war, improve our nation’s health care opportunities and lower the national debt, federal and state legislators have another major problem to address: Distracted walking.
To be specific, meandering carelessly, and perhaps aimlessly, while talking or texting on what by now must be public enemy No. 1: The cellphone.
A recent in-depth report by The Associated Press’ Joan Lowy and read by millions of Americans, including our readers, gave us scary insight into the increasing number of accidents tied to this annoying-to-many habit.
We can only guess that the subject of driving while on a cellphone – DWC – has been throughly documented and covered by the media, and that our representatives feel secure that they are in reach of legislatively banning the practice nationwide. Thus, we’re apparently about to hear more about the walking and talking/texting thing.
An accident roundup put together by Ms. Lowy indicates this indeed is no laughing matter, at least to the victims. Actually, there has been some humor in that several of the accidents have been videotaped and aired on YouTube.
About 1,152 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms in the U.S. last year for injuries suffered while walking and using a cellphone or some other electronic device, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. That number, we’re told, is likely an underestimate because patients may not mention they were using a cellphone or other device at the time they were injured.
“We are where we were with cellphone use in cars 10 years or so ago. We knew it was a problem, but we didn’t have the data,” said Jonathan Akins, deputy executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway safety offices.
Perhaps it should be an issue for legislative action, you say.
It already has. Unfortunately.
State and local officials are asking how far government should go in trying to protect people from themselves. Here are some early results:
* Distracted walking bills in the Arkansas, Illinois and New York legislatures went nowhere.
* The Utah Transit Authority enacted an ordinance barring pedestrians from using cellphones, headphones or other distracting electronic devices while crossing the tracks of its light-rail system in Salt Lake City, subject to a $50 fine. The Legislature refused to make it a statewide law.
“Look, I get distracted all the time,” said Utah State Rep. Craig Frank.
“I have a smartphone, too. Walking on sidewalks, in stores and malls, and maybe in a crosswalk sometimes I’m using my cellphone. But I try to stay connected to my environment. I never thought the government needed to cite me for using my cellphone in a reasonable manner.”
We agree.
We also agree with folks in Delaware who are on the money with their program.
Highway safety officials there opted for a public-education campaign, placing decals on crosswalks and sidewalks at busy intersections urging pedestrians to “Look up. Drivers aren’t always looking out for you.”
It’s a common-sense issue, nothing more. There is risk and people need to be made aware of what is happening and how dangerous the practice can be.
They don’t need to be afraid to answer their cellphones and face the threat of a hefty fine.
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