Mobile Phones A Danger?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2344933/Pedestrian-mobile-phone-injuries-DOUBLE-years.html

Along with smoking in public places, seat belts, crash hats, etc, I wonder how long it will be before we see some legislation attached to the use of mobile phones?

[Tilly2]

We already have it. No mobile usage in cars.

[Gromit]

It would be very difficult to legislate against pedestrians using mobile phones, iPods etc, but it may be time to have an educational campaign aimed at the very dim to point out the bleeding obvious.

That would cost a bit of money, but could save lives.

[jno]

as Tilly says, there is legislation aimed at stopping your mobile phone hurting other people.

As for those who only injure themselves, perhaps brain surgery would help.

[Old_Geezer]

You need legislation to prevent atempting to multitask. When you are concentrating on one thing you are failing to concentrate on another.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// It would be very difficult to legislate against pedestrians using mobile phones, iPods etc, ///

Can't see that it would be Gromit, a few on the spot fines after the law had been set, and I am sure even the dimmest would soon get the message.

[Baldric]

There's been lots of publicity about drivers being fined for hand-held 'phone usage, doesn't seem to deter them a great deal!

[Zeuhl]

aog

Would your law distinguish between using the phone whilst stationary and using it whilst in motion?

or is walking carefully with one OK?

compared with say, walking and talking without due care and attention?

[AlwaysConfused]

It shocks me to see people texting whilst crossing busy roads. Have people no sense whatsoever? I often have headphones on whilst walking, but I always take them out to cross the road.

I witnessed a bloke this morning reading a book whilst walking. He didn't even notice the geese with their gosling coming towards him. He soon had to close the book and get a pace on when the geese spread their wings, squawked and went hurriedly and threateningly in his direction.

[andy-hughes]

Years before mobiles were common, I worked in an office taking incoming calls on a hands-free phone. I would saometimes wander around the office while talking, and it soon became apparent to me that talking on the phone diminished my spatial awareness considerably, to the point where i kept bumping into desks and pillars - so I stopped.

I have no reason to think that this reaction was anything other than normal - so education of the simple fact that walking and phone use are really not compatable would be a good idea.

[Gromit]

The human race is accident prone. If there is a way to have an accident we will find it. Legislation is just the nanny state interfering.

One person a week dies falling from a ladder in the UK

There are 100,000 DIY related accidents every year.

Do you think there should be legislation on who can use ladders? Or that DIY should be banned?

[FredPuli43]

Well, we haven't banned cars or pedestrians, and we can't ban lack of sense. We can try to ban people endangering others by eating bananas or using phones when driving. If you wonder about bananas, it's an offence not to have proper control of the vehicle; using phones is deemed to constitute that, without more.

[jno]

yes, didn't someone get fined for eating an apple while driving a couple of years ago? Apples are dangerous... ask Eve.

[FredPuli43]

Yes, and as for Lot's wife and her salt free diet. She should never have turned her back on it.

[hc4361]

When I am driving I take great delight in beeping my horn at pedestrians engrossed in texting on their phones, especially if they are crossing the road.

[Bazile]

They can certainly be a danger

[ojread2]

Pedestrians using mobiles aren't safe on the pavement either!

Nearly got run over by some idiot reversing onto the path whilst I was texting someone and not taking much notice - I mean, I wasn't expecting to meet and idiot driver on the pavement, now, was I?

[jomifl]

It is ironic that a lot of people were worried about having their brains fried by the radio waves from mobile phones whilst overlooking the greater danger posed by a passing omnibus, which wouldn't be a danger if they didn't have a mobile phone.

[ojread2]

I don't use my phone when crossing the road, ever, not even for talking

To meet some d***h*** on the pavement is another matter completely