A bill that would make texting while walking illegal is being passed by a lawmaker in New Jersey. If approved, the measure would penalize offenders a fine of $50 and up to 15 days jail term.
According to Pamela Lampitt, Democratic Assemblywoman, who sponsored the bill, walking while using an electronic device poses a great risk of injury. The assemblywoman pointed out the study of Health Professor Dr. Corey Basch at the William Patterson University that found that texting while walking is distracting, Latin Post reports. The Governors Highway Safety Association and researchers at the Ohio State University also found that the cases of pedestrians involved in accidents while using their gadgets while walking has more than doubled in 2010.
"If a person on the road - whether walking or driving - presents a risk to others on the road, there should be a law in place to dissuade and penalize risky behavior," Lampitt told local media.
The texting while walking bill states that pedestrians must join drivers in going hands free while crossing the road, RT claims. Offenders could face payment of $50 while others could also be imprisoned for up to 15 days. The measure created mixed of reactions among online users. Some praised the bill while others couldn't help but express their opposition.
"It came as a surprise that there were so many pedestrians distracted by technology during the walk signal, but the fact that they were even more distracted by technology crossing on a 'don't walk' signal is astonishing," Basch said. "It's clearly a public health concern given that these intersections are incredibly busy and have been singled out as being dangerous."
Due to the increasing accidents on the road involving people using their mobile phones while walking, the National Safety Council had added distracted walking injuries on its yearly injury report, Tom's Guide claims. Meanwhile, there's no set date yet for the voting of texting while walking bill. A similar bill texting while driving was accepted 6 states in the U.S.
