Parents usually teach their children how to cross the street safely—by looking both ways for cars. But do they also teach them to put away their cellphones? According to statistics from years of studies, they almost never say so. In view of this, the city of Honolulu, Hawaii wants everyone to learn that lesson.
Texting while crossing the street will soon be banned in the city. Beginning on October 24，you can be fined from$15 to$99 if you step into a Honolulu street while looking at your phone．Honolulu is the first major U.S. city to ban what is called “distracted walking”. It recently passed a law, which says no pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device.
The law includes all electronic devices with screens, from cellphones, tablets, gaming devices, digital cameras to laptop computers. However, the law does permit an exception: pedestrians may use such devices in the street to call emergency services and rescue workers, such as firefighters and police officers.
Pedestrian deaths have been increasing as the use of cellphones rises in the past few years. The Governors Highway Safety Association, or GHSA, says pedestrian deaths in the United States increased 25 percent between 2010 and 2015. That trend continued in 2016 with the number of pedestrian deaths rising to almost 6, 000, 11％ higher than in 2015.
Other U.S. cities may follow Honolulu. The state of Washington was the first to outlaw distracted driving back in 2007. Now, 46 other states as well as Washington D. C. ，Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have laws against texting while driving.
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