States’ Lawmakers Turn Attention to the Dangers of Distracted Pedestrians

[madinmaryland]

Many joggers don earbuds and listen to music to distract themselves from the rigors of running. But might the Black Eyed Peas or Rihanna distract them so much that they jog into traffic?

That is the theory of several lawmakers pushing the latest generation of legislation dealing with how devices like iPods and cellphones affect traffic safety. The ubiquity of interactive devices has propelled the science of distraction — and now efforts to legislate against it — out of the car and into the exercise routine.

In New York, a bill is pending in the legislature’s transportation committee that would ban the use of mobile phones, iPods or other electronic devices while crossing streets — runners and other exercisers included. Legislation pending in Oregon would restrict bicyclists from using mobile phones and music players, and a Virginia bill would keep such riders from using a “hand-held communication device.”

In California, State Senator Joe Simitian, who led a successful fight to ban motorists from sending text messages and using hand-held phones, has reintroduced a bill that failed last year to fine bicyclists $20 for similar multitasking.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/us/26runners.html

As long as it doesn't have an affect on me (i.e. second hand smoke), then why help these fools from Darwinning themselves.

[slackmaster]

1. There are several nitwits in my neighborhood who jog in the street while wearing ear buds

Their survival depends on the attentiveness of vehicle operators.

[RKP5637]

2. Pretty soon people will be distracted by having to read the book of laws they

must obey just to exist in the US. I believe in personal responsibility on things like this, not state enforced responsibility. Just how much responsibility can we take for the fools we are surrounded by.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. Agreed.

[madinmaryland]

6. The only reason that I can see for this, is the damage that result from an

accident, when someone slams on their brakes to avoid one of these fools.

Other than that, I can't think of any other reason for the law.

[rgbecker]

7. Easy to say until the lawyers show up with the papers.

[RKP5637]

8. Yep, and that's yet another failing of our system in cases like this IMO. No personal

responsibility. It's akin to ambulance chasing lawyers.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Well, they're mostly dangerous to themselves, not to me if I'm in a car--

they're soft and squooshy.

[CreekDog]

10. it's the law not to hit them

that's your tip of the week.

[rgbecker]

5. I wish they would all wear Orange Hunter caps or reflective vests.

I can't believe how often I don't see people along the road until very close because of dark clothing at twilight and sun in the eyes etc. I know because I walk along the road how easy it is to see even after sunset, but from a car, especially one with headlights on, it is very hard to pick up walkers, joggers and cyclists along the road.

[RKP5637]

11. Many a time I've come across people dressed in dark pants/jackets on the side of the road or

crossing right in front of one. Another one is people that let very little kids out on the street dressed similarly that one can't see well at twilight. As the rods and cones adjust in the eye at twilight it's virtually impossible to see things like this well.

[CreekDog]

9. I jaywalk, it's safer --frankly

there are a few intersections near my work where if you cross legally, in the crosswalk, with the lights, you are vulnerable to having cars overtake you turning left from behind (and because they are behind you, you can't see them coming and still be looking forward --lots of pedestrians are hit this way).

so, i cross near the end of the red when there's no traffic coming from the other direction (where I have a better view). this way, the cars that i cannot see, are required to stop before proceeding (which gives me a chance to hear them, for them to see me --and it slows them down).

the laws that govern legal turns for cars need to be updated to prevent cars from legally overtaking a pedestrian while they are crossing legally. though the law requires them to stop, the green light that accompanies some situations is interpreted by some drivers as "i don't need to slow down" and "i'm not expecting anybody in the crosswalk" and pedestrians are vulnerable because it's hard to look forward and behind simultaneously --that's why i cross against the red in these situations quite often.

SF Pedestrian here.

[gratuitous]

12. Well, it does sort of affect you

At least, that's the information I get from people who have run over pedestrians or cyclists, at least the ones with a conscience. Even when there was nothing a motorist could do, and nobody attaches any blame, a person usually can't help feeling awful when they've hit another person.

As far as the law, yeah, it would be terrific if it wasn't necessary to write these prohibitions down in formal statutes. But apparently it is. As a bicycle commuter, I can't tell you how many times a day I've come within an eyelash of running into someone because they're completely oblivious to their surroundings. Walkers and joggers who can't keep to a single line, bicyclists wearing (and I'm not kidding) headphones - not just earbuds - while cruising on multi-use paths and on general use streets. Texting? Forget about it! Motorists, cyclists, joggers, moms with strollers, EVERYONE. Put the goddam thing down and get to where you're going first. Unless you think it would be neat-o to text your pals about what it's like to ride in an ambulance.

[madrchsod]

13. what the hell is wrong with the sidewalks?

where i live there`s nice well mowed grass next to the roads...of course they run in the road.

[customerserviceguy]

14. I can make a distinction between merely listening to a cell phone or MP3 player

and texting, or otherwise diverting your vision to a handheld device. It could be easy to drift out into a road if you're on a bike, trying to text.

I wish we'd just ban texting, it wasn't all that bad before we had it. Now we have fools falling in fountains, and people crashing into the car in front of them. Maybe we're just waiting for the body count to be high enough, like an unpopular war.

[county worker]

15. We need more laws to protect us from ourselves!

I can understand not texting while driving but listening to music while jogging or riding a bike is OK by me.

What we need to do is make some laws that cut down on other noise like the fucks that ride Harleys with pipes so loud you get ear damage being next to them at a traffic light!