Have you seen the surveillance video that shows a woman who, while texting on her smartphone, fell into a fountain in a Pennsylvania mall?
Well, now that woman — Cathy Cruz Marrero — is considering legal action, saying the video, which was seen by more than 2 million people, isn’t funny.
Oh, it’s funny — but more than that, it’s proving the dangers (and possibly humiliation) of texting and walking.
And this doesn’t bode well for me, a chronic text-walker.
A proposal to ban crossing the street while holding a mobile electronic device — cell phone, video game, laptop or even cameras — advanced today, making the bill in the City Council a step closer to final passage.
I’m in so much trouble.
The 2009 law that stopped drivers from texting — and using other electronic devices — was hard enough. Now I won’t be able to browse Google maps or shoot an email while crossing the street. In fact, under Bill 43, I couldn’t even just hold an electronic device, much less use it.
Lawmakers in other states — Arkansas and New York, most recently — are cracking down on distracted pedestrians, too.
But is this really a solution? Should it matter that a pedestrian — namely me — wants to text while crossing the street? And why just crossing the street? That woman who fell into the fountain wouldn’t have been fined. Just publicly humiliated on YouTube. But that’s OK, right?
23 Comments
I am actually a more conscious walker when I’m fooling with my iPhone than if I were just walking, because when I just walk I am lost in my own thoughts. When I use my iPhone, I know I’m more likely to trip or run into someone, so I am very aware of my surroundings. Peripheral vision is quite effective if you pay attention to it.
That said, I will rarely look at my phone without crossing the street. I’ve had too many near misses when I am paying attention to the street — cars that don’t stop at the red light, or turn without looking both ways. Plus I know that if I drop my phone while walking down the sidewalk, I can just stop and pick it up, whereas if I drop my phone while crossing the street I could find myself caught in oncoming traffic.
Oh, man, I’m the WORST when I’m texting! I’ve walked into poles and glass doors. Then again, I can’t recall a time when I’ve texted while specifically crossing a street… Maybe checking Google maps…
I think it’s extremely dangerous to text while walking in a crosswalk. And I think it’s silly to pass a law banning it. People need to be responsible for their actions. So if a pedestrian falls into a manhole or steps out in front of a bus and gets killed–oh well. Seriously. The chances of the text-walker getting hurt or killed completely outweigh the chances of hurting or killing someone else. The Darwin Awards exist for a reason. We don’t need to saddle law enforcement with the job of preventing people that do stupid things that hurt no one but themselves.
And I don’t know about O’ahu drivers, but drivers here in Hilo blatantly drive while talking on their cells. We need to do something about that before we even begin talking about pedestrians texting while walking.
I’m with you. If you’re a danger to yourself, that’s your problem. I say that in the nicest way, of course.
And take away valuable time from the police who should be out fighting crime? No way. How about more driver education with emphasis on not running over pedestrians,and learning techniques of keeping one’s rage,anger, and impatience in check. Thats my suggestion.A car is no match for a pedestrian.Whether or not the person is in the middle of the road or in a crosswalk.The burden should lie upon the driver.A driver whom is paying attention… i.e. EYES ON THE ROAD. And arent most of these type of accidents caused by drivers trying to “beat-the-light?” It sure seems that there are drivers out there intent on “bagging’ a few pedestrians and tying-em to the roof of their car…..just because. So ya had to wait for some walkers,big deal.This is the Aloha State after all.
I’ve heard that argument before, about how these laws — ex: wearing seatbelts and helmets — redirects attention to mundane “crimes,” if you can call them that. It would be interesting to hear a police officer’s response to this…
I’m very disappointed that the bill in its current form advanced. It makes holding an electronic camera while crossing the street a traffic offense. You realize that every tourist who crosses the street in Waikiki holding (and not using) a camera or video camera would be committing a traffic offense? This is very unfriendly to the visitor industry and does not put our community in good light. Very disappointed.
I know! Banning cameras is ridiculous! Why not ban twirling a baton, too!
I am in total agreement that driving and texting should be illegal because you’re putting innocent lives at risk, including your own. You can kill someone and chances are, some poor innocent someone at that.
Here with the texting and walking, you’re not putting anyone in harm’s way except yourself. Sure its sort of rude to bump into someone because you’re texting and not paying attention but that shouldn’t be illegal. How does one enforce such a law? If I am holding my camera but not “using it”, is that illegal? If I am holding my iPhone or iPad but not actively using it, is that illegal? I haven’t read the bill so color me uninformed but this seems pretty silly. A flashlight is electronic isn’t it? So is an electronic cigarette. Or my car’s remote key fob. The list goes on…
Yeah, I’m not sure how the bill words “electronic device,” but here’s a summary of the bill and how it pertains to just holding something:
The 2009 mobile device ban was aimed at stopping activities such as text messaging and video-game playing while driving, but law enforcement officials said a blanket ban was needed to make the measure enforceable. With a blanket ban, a police officer would only have to see a driver using a hand-held device, not determine what was being done, to issue a citation.
Cathy Cruz Marrero has no sense of humor. She wants to sue someone because SHE is the idiot. What an opportunist! And for the record that was extremely funny.
Texting and walking can have amusing consequences but frankly some are not so amusing. I had a lady walk right into me while texting and then yell at me for running into her. My son pointed out to her that we were just standing there minding our own business. She walked into my back so there was no way I could have seen her coming. My suspicion is that she is related to Cathy. I was polite up to a point when she started to question my character and say a lot of excessively unflattering things about me. I asked her one question, ‘how many times you been married and divorced?’ She shut up and left… and my son lost it laughing.
At the end of the day you can’t legislate every single issue or you wind up like Singapore. You know they have a t-shirt there that reads, ‘Singapore is a FINE city.’ Underneath those words are pictures of people doing things people get fined for there like chewing gum, $500 fine. I love Singapore but don’t think the USA is ready for that. Texting and walking being punishable seems like it is headed there.
Are you serious?! I can’t believe she yelled at you! That’s insane! Well, I’m glad you snapped back, though I’m so non-confrontational, I probably would have wound up apologizing and buying her lunch!
Probably shouldn’t write that… people can be really creative when it comes to free lunch 🙂
I’m closest to Dote’s comment on this one. I never text while walking, because I never text (well, maybe a total of 3 text messages in my life and none read or sent while walking). I walk a lot. I sometimes do a voice call while walking. I am no better at it than anyone else. The distraction is such that paying attention to a phone call makes it practically impossible to walk in a straight line. We are like a society of drunks walking into traffic and zig-zagging down sidewalks. We don’t haul a guy off the sidewalk and lock him up for downing three beers in an hour. However, we do if he gets behind the wheel, and we might if he shatters a glass door by walking into it, and we might also if he falls on someone injuring him or her. The same approach ought to apply to what a person may do while holding an electronic device and on foot, not the simple act of holding it.
I’m probably not the only one who has cringed to see a child texting while riding a bicycle. My first thought is not that it should be banned, but that this is a child who is not ready to have a phone and there are broken bones in his or her future.
I want to know why it’s only when you cross the street. Is that the only time you can be a danger to yourself and your fellow man?
Hello Cat,
They are targeting you. What out…..hahaha
I know! I hope they’re not reading my blog!
You mean you actually used to text while driving? If so, you make a strong case for needing a law making that illegal.
There’s a huge difference between driving while texting and walking while texting. You are unlikely to kill or maim someone by walking while texting.
Yep, I have texted while driving — mostly at red lights and in traffic, but still. It’s dangerous and I don’t do it often — but I’ve done it, yes. Bad Cat.
I can see some danger when not paying attention while crossing the street. But I don’t agree with the language when they plan to cite you for just carrying the device in your hand. What if you’re not carrying a bag? Sometime I just carry my iPAD. Now they really trying to control what we do.
I think carrying your iPad would qualify you as a criminal! 🙂
In my opinion, the news hasn’t done a good job reporting on this issue. Advertiser’s headline “Gadget Ban Clears Council” (today) is technically correct. The measure only faced First Reading is simply an introduction of the measure and every single measure passes First Reading because that’s the introduction phase. I hope the Twitter world will once become a loud presence in voicing people’s sentiments about this measure, just like the foie gras ban bill at the State Legislature.
Speaking to the measure, like David said, the biggest problem is that it’s difficult to govern and manage human behavior. As much as we want to ensure safety for pedestrians and motorists, it is best that everyone be as cognizant and vigilant as possible about being aware of their environment at all times.
There are so many issues facing the city and state and this is what the legislators are working on? You’ve got to be kidding me.
That being said, sure I am for it, but why stop there. If you are worried about distracted pedestrians, let ban any sort of talking, eating, drinking and doing anything other than walking.
Who voted for these people? Tackle the real issues. That is what they were elected to do. Represent the people. It’s amazing how elected officials forget this.