New Jersey Legislator Seeks to Ban Texting by Pedestrians

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A New Jersey Assemblywoman has introduced a bill that would make it illegal for people to send text messages while walking on sidewalks, in crosswalks or in proximity to roadways or parking areas. Pamela Lampitt told fellow legislators she was motivated to propose the new law in the aftermath of the death of University of Pennsylvania student. The young man was apparently engaged in a text message exchange on his phone when he walked in front of a moving bus.

According to Lampitt, texting while walking is like jaywalking. She warns that the dangers are not just to the person who’s texting—often it’s motorists and other pedestrians who are put at risk by the behavior.

Lampitt cited a study, conducted by Dr. Corey Basch, of William Patterson University, that corroborates the risk of injury when pedestrians use hand-held devices. In Basch’s study, he looked at more than 20,000 pedestrian crosswalk injury cases. He found that about half of the individuals who were injured when crossing against a “Don’t Walk” sign were wearing headphones or using some type of handheld device. Of those who wear injured when they had the “Walk” sign, about one-third were similarly distracted by headphones or handheld devices. In another study, funded by the Pew Charitable Trust, researchers found that more than one in every 10 pedestrian accidents involves someone using a handheld or mobile device.

If enacted into law, Lampitt’s bill would impose fines and the potential for jail time for texting while walking.

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