New York State Addresses Distracted Pedestrian Problem with Proposed Electronics Ban

According to a Reuters article in the Washington Post, the State of New York is looking to address distraction problems with pedestrians similar to those with cell phone-wielding drivers.

Nationally, the state government says, the problem that is epidemic in New York City is being seen: iPod-wearing, Bluetooth-Headset-sporting, cell phone-gabbing pedestrians are running amok, walking into buses and cars, endangering themselves and others. They intend to provide a remedy for pedestrians in New York City and Buffalo.

For many years now, governments have been increasingly called upon to address the matter of drivers using cell phones. Distracted driving laws have not been enough, and specific statutes have been passed, some increasing liability for drivers who flout the law. Now, pedestrians committing similar acts of civil inconsideration will be fined, with the proposed amount currently set at $100.

An article at smartrisk.ca discusses a study of pedestrian behavior while distracted, concluding that education of pedestrians to avoid such risky behavior can reduce the number of accidents and injuries. Meanwhile, such a campaign has been in place at the University of Illinois, where the student newspaper, the "Daily Illini" editorialized that the blame would be better placed "elsewhere." Campuses across the country provide an excellent example, as students are heavy cell phone users. One source says that 90% of students now use cell phones, up from 33% in 2000. Many of them use time walking around campus to keep in touch, while other students bicycle past, and some students even bicycle with cell phones.

An event for World Usability Day in New Zealand had another solution for visually impaired and also distracted pedestrians - the equivalent of a roadway "rumble strip," bumps on the sidewalk before street crossings.

HR and legal consultants have been warning employers that required or encouraged use of cell phones while driving on the job could result in liability should the distracted driver have an accident. This could even result in Workers' Compensation claims, they say. Similar concerns are being raised by them on cell phone use in the workplace, and distracted users in busy cities could be another area of concern.

A police report in Lynnwood, Washington gives an example of how, nationwide, pedestrians as well as drivers are creating unsafe situations and sometimes accidents by walking across roadways while distracted by a cellphone.

The New York law comes on the heels of other government rulings in areas of personal choice, such as the use of trans fats in cooking in New York city, and smoking bans in restaurants and elsewhere. While the actions raise controversy, many people are considering them simply legislation of common sense.

Sources:
http://www.hrhero.com/sample/hrquicklist/phone3.pdf

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020700947.html

http://www.smartrisk.ca/ContentDirector.aspx?tp=2861

http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2006/02/07/Opinions/Editorial.Liveup.Fails.At.Campus.Safety-1601822.shtml

http://www.upa.org.nz/unusable-weather/

http://www.itfacts.biz/index.php?id=P2592

http://www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/police/LPDContent/News/P-20061024.asp

http://www.wnbc.com/news/10948106/detail.html