New York may ban iPods while crossing street

New York may ban iPods while crossing street

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.

"I'm not trying to intrude on that," Kruger said. "But what's happening is when they're tuning into their iPod or Blackberry or cell phone or video game, they're walking into speeding buses and moving automobiles. It's becoming a nationwide problem."

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

not gonna happen. there is no way to enforce something like that... and people should watch where they are going.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

I saw this on the news last Night DUMB DUMB DUMB If you can use an ipod or a cell phone then you should be able to figure out how to cross the street.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

i hear that people can choke while walking and chewing gum at the same time.

So, i think they should ban Gum, too. I have always considered Trident the anti-christ!

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

how about.... the government focuses on educating the people about these idiotic tendencies, rather than treat them like 5 year olds who have their tosy taken away for a time out. There's an idea.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Ain't gonna happen....

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

I can't imagine enforcing it- and I can tell you, when I drive to work (in the Bronx) it's staggering to me how many people just wander into the street without looking, even without iPods/cell phones. A careful person will be careful, regardless of what's in his/her ears.

Though I do, when I take my students on field trips (we have to walk to the subway) insist that they do not wear headphones until they are on the train.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

this is like banning talking on your cell phone while driving...make a dumb law that no one obeys and they hardly ever enforce

ETA: I don't think talking on the cell phone is dumb, b/c I do agree that it is distracting, but people still do it and its way too hard to enforce

Message edited 2/7/2007 1:39:31 PM.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

I confess, I'm guilty of this. There have been a few times where I've almost gotten run-over. But, I've learned my lesson and I don't listen to my Ipod too loudly anymore.

Seriously though, why doesn't NYC take care of all the dog poop on my old street (just moved). They should worry about that more than this stupid fine.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

and I'm so sure that the drivers of the cars who hit the 3 people who died had nothing at ALL to do with it right?

what's next? banning talking on a cell or chewing gum while crossing the street

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Posted by neenie

i hear that people can choke while walking and chewing gum at the same time.

So, i think they should ban Gum, too. I have always considered Trident the anti-christ!

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

I agree the law would be a waste of time, however, I have seen many people put themselves in danger because they were too involved with their electronic devices. Come on already, is the song, e-mail, call, etc. really THAT important??

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Did anyone see Carlos Mancia when he said that laws like the one telling us to buckle our seatbelts are ridiculous because if you're too stupid to figure out that it's important to buckle up, you deserve what you get? This falls under that category.

The truth of the matter is that many people DON'T pay attention to what they're doing or what is going on around them when they're listening to Ipods or talking on cell phones. People think they're invincible.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Never going to happen. You try handing out tickets in the middle of Times Square during rush hour...yeah ok.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

I wish someone would tackle the littering issues instead...

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

Okay, I have to totally go against the grain here. First of all, this is a minor law and not exactly going to waste a lot of time. Secondly, if you were the one who hit someone who had stepped out in front of you it may be a different story. Imagine living with that guilt, no matter who's fault it is. I don't think it's a terrible idea at all. If people can't figure out how to talk on the phone without looking around then maybe they should get a ticket. How many times have you been cut off or almost in an accident where the other person is on the cell in their car. I've been rearended twice because the person in the car behind me was talking on their phone and didn't see me stop.
Much like the seatbelt law, it's a necessary evil for the stupidity level of the general public.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street

I do not use my iPod while I am walking around the city. I want to be aware of what is going on around me and I don't think it's safe to walk around with my music on.

I do speak on the phone when I am in the street but I try not to. I hate when my friends call me from the street and all I hear are horns honking or wind blowing. So, I try not to subject other people to that unless it's crucial that I speak to them.

I'm not sure what I think about laws banning these activities, though.

Re: New York may ban iPods while crossing street