[即时新闻]170731-Mobile phone ban while crossing roads in Honolulu
Honolulu will be the first big American city to ban pedestrians from walking across the road while looking at mobile phones. The new law starts in October. It says: "No pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device." This includes tablets and digital cameras. People breaking this law will get a fine of $15-$35. People who break it for a second time will get a $99 fine. The new bill is called the Distracted Walking Law. Honolulu's mayor Kirk Caldwell said the law was because of the high number of injuries and deaths when pedestrians use mobile devices.
Lawmakers called people who text while walking, "phone zombies". Mr Caldwell said the ban was to make people more aware of the dangers of texting while walking. He said that unfortunately, many pedestrians in Honolulu have accidents while crossing the road. Caldwell said: "Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass, that perhaps common sense would [exist], but sometimes we lack common sense." Another lawmaker said we have technology but we forget about the real problem of safety. The new law is like one that bans texting while driving.
