Pedestrian’s banned from using Mobile Phones

Under new laws being discussed by local politicians in America, New Yorkers may be banned from using their mobile phones or iPods while crossing the road. 

In an attempt to deter the city’s streets of joggers and commuters from wearing electronic devices due to fears about safety, those caught breaking the rule would face a fine of $100 (£63) and a court summons. 

Carl Kruger, a Democratic state senator, said the new law was necessary to prevent accidents being caused by people locked in the "deceptive serenity" of their phones or music players.

The Governors Highway Safety Association says that pedestrian deaths account for 12 per cent of fatalities on US roads, and that numbers increased last year after being in decline for several years.

Here in the UK, the emphasis has been on preventing drivers from using their mobile phones when behind the wheel, but should we put more emphasis on distractions that affect pedestrians?