Hospitalizations from distracted walking have quadrupled in seven years. Instead of banning phones, the sketch proposes separate sidewalk lanes for texters and non-phone users, with mock enforcement to keep everyone safe.
Walking down the street doesn't feel very dangerous, but over a 7-year period, there's been a quadrupling in the number of distracted walkers sent to the hospital.
And there's a simple reason why— smartphones.
We're never gonna get people to stop using their phones, but I do think we can get talkers and texters out of everybody else's way. We're setting up a new system to make the sidewalk safer and easier to navigate. We've got one lane for people without cell phones and a dedicated lane over here for people who want to talk and text while walking down the street.
Sir, we ask that it's dedicated just for you. This is the lane for people that are using their cell phone texting or holding it in their hand. You got a cell phone lane. You can check your email and not have to worry about hitting into anybody.
Ma'am, if you could move your cell phone use to this lane, ma'am. Could you ticket her? Ticket her? Yeah, yeah. Thank you. Thank you.
Sir, I'm sorry. I'm gonna have to give you a ticket. For what? For having your cell phone in a non-cell phone lane.
