Chief Ripoli said: “It’s a big distraction. It’s not always the driver’s
fault. Pedestrians are not always aware; they’re not watching where they are
walking.”
Since the start of the campaign in March 117 people have been fined for
‘dangerous walking’ although it is unclear exactly how many were texting
when fined.
He said that while texting while walking would not be prohibited completely,
people caught crossing a street while texting can expect to be given a
ticket.
Other safety suggestions by the police chief include refraining from listening
to music on headphones and wearing bright clothing.
The memo reads: “Pedestrians need to resist talking on their cell phones
and/or taking their headphones off while crossing a street. These
distractions can be catastrophic to the pedestrian who is too distracted to
notice if a car is coming in their direction.
“It would also be beneficial to wear some kind of bright coloured
clothing. Most coats and jackets are in darker shades during the winter, but
adding something that could reflect a headlight would increase the chance
for a driver to see you during the night time hours.”
Jaywalking in many US
states is prohibited, but is so common that most police turn a blind eye.
Texting while walking has been proven to be distracting. A study at Stony
Brook University found that 60 per cent of blindfolded participants, when
asked to walk in a straight line, veered off when they texting.
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