Below is an article from Reuters about how a New York State Senator wants to ban electronic devices while crossing the street. Yes, ban electronic devices while crossing the street. Sounds a bit silly doesn’t it.. I mean seriously, since September 3 people have been killed because they walked in to the street without looking and they couldn’t hear people yelling “watch out!” They were wearing headphones. My question is: why does the government waste it’s time and money to make laws to help people from being stupid? What’s next no talking while crossing the road? No chewing gum while walking? It just seems a waste of time to me. Shouldn’t they police be more worried the murder rate or theft?? Is this really a nationwide problem?
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New Yorkers who blithely cross the street listening to an iPod or talking on a cell phone could soon face a $100 fine.
New York State Sen. Carl Kruger says three pedestrians in his Brooklyn district have been killed since September upon stepping into traffic while distracted by an electronic device. In one case bystanders screamed “watch out” to no avail.
Kruger says he will introduce legislation on Wednesday to ban the use of gadgets such as Blackberry devices and video games while crossing the street.
“Government has an obligation to protect its citizenry,” Kruger said in a telephone interview from Albany, the state capital. “This electronic gadgetry is reaching the point where it’s becoming not only endemic but it’s creating an atmosphere where we have a major public safety crisis at hand.”
Tech-consuming New Yorkers trudge to work on sidewalks and subways like an army of drones, appearing to talk to themselves on wireless devices or swaying to seemingly silent tunes.