“Zombie pedestrians,” also known as “smartphone zombies,” are a danger to drivers and to themselves, since they can’t be bothered to look up from their screens even when they’re crossing the street.
Because the problem is showing no signs of improvement, Britain is also considering a “safe system” approach already used in Holland, Belgium, China and Brazil. Chief transportation scientist at the Transport Research Laboratory Shaun Helman is urging authorities to consider the creation of special “text walking lanes” and the use of red lights on curbs at junctions, warning smartphone users to look up.
Helman advises the Department of Transport and transport authorities around the world, and he believes the problem has a 2-way solution, The Telegraph reports. First, pedestrians must be educated on the dangers of texting and walking, just like drivers are constantly warned of the dangers of texting and driving. Secondly, extra measures to keep them safe are in order.
Education might do its part, but there will always be pedestrians ignoring the law. For them, red lights placed on the curb at junctions could prove essential, by warning them they’re at a crossing and they must look up from their screen.
“If we are thinking about injury prevention and the dominant ‘safe system’ approach used within road safety, there is actually a strong case for redesigning infrastructure over relying on other methods of changing behavior,” Helman says.
“The important thing is that the system as a whole is designed to ensure the chances of serious injury is minimized,” he continues. “Thus, if we are to provide information to people dependent on where they are looking [on the floor, if they are looking at their phone for example], it is vital that this information is placed at points where important decisions need to be made [for example about whether to cross].”
Both red lights at the curb and walking lanes for “zombies” are used in many countries, and figures indicate a decrease in the number of accidents. Figures also show that drivers involved in accidents with pedestrians often report that the pedestrian either had headphones on or was on the phone.
Helman advises the Department of Transport and transport authorities around the world, and he believes the problem has a 2-way solution, The Telegraph reports. First, pedestrians must be educated on the dangers of texting and walking, just like drivers are constantly warned of the dangers of texting and driving. Secondly, extra measures to keep them safe are in order.
Education might do its part, but there will always be pedestrians ignoring the law. For them, red lights placed on the curb at junctions could prove essential, by warning them they’re at a crossing and they must look up from their screen.
“If we are thinking about injury prevention and the dominant ‘safe system’ approach used within road safety, there is actually a strong case for redesigning infrastructure over relying on other methods of changing behavior,” Helman says.
“The important thing is that the system as a whole is designed to ensure the chances of serious injury is minimized,” he continues. “Thus, if we are to provide information to people dependent on where they are looking [on the floor, if they are looking at their phone for example], it is vital that this information is placed at points where important decisions need to be made [for example about whether to cross].”
Both red lights at the curb and walking lanes for “zombies” are used in many countries, and figures indicate a decrease in the number of accidents. Figures also show that drivers involved in accidents with pedestrians often report that the pedestrian either had headphones on or was on the phone.