Martin Saarinen

We don’t need tech to help us cross road safely; we just need to put phones down

SMARTPHONES have brought a lot of good into this world. They’ve given us instant access to information, new ways of interacting with friends and family and have quickly become the 21st-century equivalent of the Swiss army knife.

What they’ve also become is a daily distraction. Mobile phone use at the wheel is a known road safety concern.

But mobile phone distraction is affecting pedestrians, too. People crossing the street while viewing their smartphone has become a large enough problem that authorities in the US and Europe are starting to come up with new ways of breaking the habit.

Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii in the US, has become the first city in the world to fine pedestrians for crossing the road while staring at their phones. People are allowed to speak on a phone, but if they’re caught viewing their phone they’re fined $35 (£26) for a first offence, then it’s $75 (£57) the second time and $99 (£75) the third time.

Over in Europe, we’ve resorted to different techniques. In Issue 1,495, Auto Express reported on how tech and design company Umbrellium showcased the world’s first dynamic road surface. HD cameras linked to LED lights will create warnings on the road in a bid to slow cars and give pedestrians room and time to cross.

And in the Netherlands, horizontal LED strips in front of crossings are on trial that illuminate the ground so smartphone users staring at screens know when the lights are red or green.

Interesting developments, but surely there are better things to spend taxpayers’ money on? After all, the best solution would be for us to just put our phones away when crossing the street.

“The authorities are trying to break the habit of people crossing the road on their phone”