Written on Feb 16th, 2007 by Dave

Posted In: Sony PSP News

Using your PSP while walking could get you fined

In another case of “you couldn’t make it up”, it looks like New Yorkers who like to use their mobile gadgets while out and about could get fined if they try and cross a road while using the device.

This has come about due to a number of accidents involving commuters not concentrating on their surroundings and more on the game they are playing, the music they are listening to, or the email they are trying to send.

New York State Senator Carl Kruger told Reuters that three pedestrians in the
Brooklyn district have been killed since September by traffic after stepping
into a road while using an electronic device that distracted them from looking
where they were going. In one case, a device prevented someone from hearing
warnings from other pedestrians to “watch out!”

Kruger commented, “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.”

While I can understand that concentrating on your mobile device may distract you from your surroundings, I can’t believe anyone actually walks around and plays on a PSP or any other gaming device, especially somewhere as busy as New York. It would surely become incredibly annoying walking into people all the time, and getting distracted and possibly missing that vital slam dunk on NBA’07.

The legislation will be introduced today to ban the use of electronic gadgets,
including portable game machines, BlackBerrys, mobile phones, and iPods, while
crossing the road. Those who ignore the ban could face a fine of $100.

I would have thought this whole subject would have been covered under the ‘common sense’ principle, in that if you are crossing the road, it pays to take a look and see whats coming first.