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Comment by jacek | Hacker News Reader

I wish something was done about drivers playing with their phones. I live in a city in the US, where cars are the main mode of transportation. I, however live relatively close to work and walk every day (I am European ;). Number of drivers using their phone is just ridiculous (looks like ~30-40% of them during afternoon rush hours). I have been in life-threatening situations many times (2-3 per month on average). All because of phone use and driver friendly (aka pedestrian unfriendly) design and polices.

I just wanted to say that use of phones by pedestrians in certain situations is unsafe and problematic. However, use of phones by drivers is a much bigger problem that has much more serious consequences and is not addressed in any way.

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I'm in a similar situation and completely agree. A large portion of the US road infrastructure was designed specifically to accommodate cars and nothing else. On my walks to work I often have to step in to the street because the sidewalk dissappears, or there are no crosswalks. Behavior of drivers is a problem, cell phone usage especially. But I also believe we need to seriously update our urban design in this country, so that people who want to, you know, use their feet, can get around safely.

In the District of Columbia, one can get a large fine for holding one's cell phone while driving. But if you walk two blocks in Washington and don't see at least one driver doing this, you aren't paying attention. While out running, I have yelled to get the attention of drivers looking every way but mine, but mostly at their phones. While out the walking I am very wary. The threat of a fine is not working.

(As I recall, there are many signs in Manhattan announcing large fines for the unnecessary use of an automobile's horn. There is also a lot of noise from horns. It could be that the horns one hears are prudently warning other drivers or pedestrians, but I suspect that they indicate drivers' levels of frustration.)

As somebody says farther down, such a law cannot possibly be enforced uniformly, and is open to selective enforcement.

A neighbor's car was totaled in a rear-end collision. He's pretty sure that the person who hit him was looking at a phone.

I was also rear-ended once by a person using a phone. To make things more interesting I was in a rental car and I was on my way to return it.

The biggest difference I see is looking at your phone while crossing the street is dangerous for your life. Looking at your phone while driving is dangerous for everyone else's life.

True, but two failsafes is better than one. If one fails (is distracted) the other compensates.

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