Main image via CNA + Daily Sabah
Most of us are simply glued to our phones these days. Whether we’re sitting, standing, lying down, walking, or even if we’re in the toilet, our eyes are constantly staring at our phones.
This can be seen especially in pedestrians all over the world who seem to take more of an interest in their phones instead of the roads around them, and in turn put their lives and the lives of others in danger by causing collisions and sometimes accidents.
A Japanese city however is aiming to put a stop to this by banning the use of phones while walking.
via GIPHY
Officials in Yamato city, near Tokyo, have submitted a Bill to the city assembly to get people to stop using their phones while walking.
“The number of people using smartphones has rapidly increased and so (has) the number of accidents,” city official Masaaki Yasumi told AFP. “We want to prevent that.”
If the Bill passes, this will the first such ban in Japan.
via GIPHY
However, the city official noted that there will be no punishment for those who are unable to tear themselves away from their phones while in the streets.
“We hope the ban will raise more awareness about the dangers,” Masaaki said.
Posters and messages will be used to inform citizens of the new rule that is expected to take effect from next month.
via GIPHY
Research done by Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo in 2014 estimated that a pedestrian’s average field of vision while staring down at a smartphone is 5 per cent of what our eyes take in normally.
The company ran a computer simulation of what would occur if 1,500 people used the hectic Shibuya pedestrian crossing in Tokyo while all looking at their phones.
The simulation found that two-thirds of the pedestrians would not make it to the other side without an incident. The company noted 446 collisions with 103 people knocked down and 21 dropping their phones.
There has also been a recent increase in the number of accidents in Japan between people using their phones while riding a bicycle and pedestrians.
Image via CNA
This is definitely a good initiative on the Japanese city’s part! Perhaps we all need to start looking up from our phones more, especially when we’re walking in the streets.
It’s definitely important to be aware of your surroundings, especially now with social distancing in place.
Do you think banning phones while walking is a good initiative? Will it help in preventing accidents and collisions? Let us know your thoughts!
In the meantime, be sure to keep playing your part by staying safe and staying home, and only going out if it’s absolutely necessary. And if you’re going out, be sure to practice social distancing.
Stay updated with the latest COVID-19 news here: https://en.syok.my/covid-19
Info via CNA