Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Duppie on July 30, 2012 at 2:29am

Problem solved:

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Permalink Reply by JeffB on July 30, 2012 at 4:35am

From the article:
"The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ... has received reports from bus drivers and train engineers who say they nearly hit pedestrians who didn't appear to hear them sound their horns because they were distracted by their electronic devices..."

I can add my report from Friday night on the Irving Park bus. The driver had to hit the brakes hard when a woman on a phone, crossing against the light and out of the crosswalk, strolled directly into our path as we pulled up to a bus stop. She seemed completely unfazed and unaware even after the driver screeched to a stop and laid on the horn.

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Permalink Reply by Jason W on August 8, 2012 at 9:50am

What to do? Nothing! Enough of the nanny state!

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on August 8, 2012 at 9:55am

Run them over. That will teach them to think twice before crossing the street while texting. </sarcasm>

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 8, 2012 at 10:51am

From witness statements, it sounded like that may have been the cause of a pedestrian fatality on 95th St. earlier this year when a young woman with earbuds on was hit and killed by a Metra train.

JeffB said:

From the article:
"The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ... has received reports from bus drivers and train engineers who say they nearly hit pedestrians who didn't appear to hear them sound their horns because they were distracted by their electronic devices..."

I can add my report from Friday night on the Irving Park bus. The driver had to hit the brakes hard when a woman on a phone, crossing against the light and out of the crosswalk, strolled directly into our path as we pulled up to a bus stop. She seemed completely unfazed and unaware even after the driver screeched to a stop and laid on the horn.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 8, 2012 at 10:52am

Priceless!

Duppie said:

Problem solved:

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Permalink Reply by Chris B on August 8, 2012 at 11:00am

I guess the only way would be to have some functions turn off if the accelerometer detects movement. Though people would have to be able to turn it off when they are passengers in cars or trains, rendering it useless.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on August 8, 2012 at 11:41am

Given how many people I see wandering around distracted, be it walking, cycling or driving, I'm sort of amazed there are MORE accidents. 

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 8, 2012 at 11:45am

Perhaps the number of us on heightened alert is helping to balance out the number who are walking, cycling or driving while distraction-impaired.

I've been thinking the same thing lately, because I've seen a huge increase in this problem in the last year or so, mostly related to smart phones - which are rendering people not so smart.

Liz said:

Given how many people I see wandering around distracted, be it walking, cycling or driving, I'm sort of amazed there are MORE accidents. 

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