The Brits are way out in front of us in making the streets safe for people too stupid to use a phone.
Britain’s first ‘Safe Text’ street has been created complete with padded lampposts to protect millions of mobile phone users from getting hurt in street accidents while walking and texting.
Around one in ten careless Brits has suffered a “walk ‘n text” street injury in the past year through collisions with lampposts, bins and other pedestrians. The 6.6million accidents have caused injuries ranging from mild knocks and embarrassing cuts and bruises through to broken noses, cheekbones and even a fractured skull. Almost two thirds – 62 per cent – of Brits concentrate so hard while texting that they lose their peripheral vision, researchers found.
Given the apparent dangers of “unprotected text”, over a quarter of Brits – 27 per cent – are in favour of creating a ‘mobile motorway’ on Britain’s pavements. Texters could follow a brightly coloured line, which which would act like a cycle lane, steering them away from obstacles. And 44 per cent of those surveyed wanted pads placed on lampposts to protect them while texting. The study found that busy city streets were the worst for “walk ‘n text” accidents.
Now, is it “one in ten careless Brits” who suffer these injuries? Or do the one in ten Brits who are careless all suffer injuries?
Somehow, I’ve managed to avoid running into lampposts, trash cans, and pedestrians whilst navigating the streets. Perhaps it’s because I leave my Blackberry in my pocket while walking around?
Via Kate McMillan
