Texting while crossing a road - should you be fined?

DonkeyStyle \o/ · 09-06-2012 11:13PM

Yeah, good money spinner alright.
Instead of stealth taxes they should bring in a load of new laws with on-the-spot fines, that way they can have various wardens going around watching people... you just have to make enough laws to keep them busy. It's for our own good you see.

girl in the striped socks · 09-06-2012 11:15PM

Do we not have enough rules to live by already?
Pedestrians walking out in front of me when driving makes me mad, but the same people will still stumble out on the road without thinking whether they are texting or day dreaming.

I'd be more interested if they policed people walking/jogging/cycling on roads without any consideration for other road users. The amount of people I pass on a daily basis walking/ jogging two or three abreast that refuse to move in for oncoming traffic is unbelievable. I don't expect them to jump into the ditch, but just maybe walk/ jog in a single line when there is an oncoming car instead of glaring at motorists like they own the fcuking road. I often wonder would their nasty glares save them if there was a lunatic speeding around the corner.
A little bit of common sense goes a long way. Unfortunately not everyone has it.

johngalway · 09-06-2012 11:25PM

I feel cheated by this inferior poll, I wanted to shove Atari Jaguar under a bus.

cloud493 · 09-06-2012 11:29PM

I seen a woman the other day while waiting for a bus, she was pushing a pram into the busy road, and trying to take out a smoke and light it at the same time. She dropped the smoke, and let go of the pram, while trying to pick it up :eek:

daenerysstormborn3 · 09-06-2012 11:33PM

Abi wrote: »

I can't believe how much this happens. I see people cross the road without looking all the time, but I can't believe the utter carelessness of women crossing the road without looking while pushing a buggy.

It's the fúcking kid that gets hit first, not even the daft bint that is pushing it.

It's the same as people who drive like utter lunatics with 3 kids in the back and a "baby on board" sticker stuck on the back window. Everybody else is just supposed to be aware that they are a parent and act accordingly, i.e. stay out of their way.

Biggins · 09-06-2012 11:42PM

Oranage2 wrote: »

But i can text and walk across a road responsibly - why should i have to suffer?

Well you won't I presume till a vehicle turns a sudden corner and hits you I suppose!

languagenerd · 10-06-2012 12:11AM

I don't think we should start with texting, tbh, there are a lot of people who cross road very dangerously without a mobile phone and I think these cause more accidents!

I'd rather some sort of more general legislation along the lines of "dangerously crossing a road" and/or "causing an accident". Texting while crossing could be included in this definition (if it was indeed dangerous, because some people can text without looking at the phone) without being a separate thing, because as others have pointed out, there are lots of other distractions and we could never prohibit all of them.

There's a particular corner on the quays coming onto O'Connell Bridge in Dublin that I hate crossing, and I have no idea how more accidents don't happen there. The lights for the cars going straight ahead go red for a few seconds, then the cars coming around the corner (going left) start moving. But, without fail, people always start crossing between the two sets of cars (a space of about 5 seconds) and then there's a bus trying to pass through a crowd of pedestrians who keep crossing. All the while the pedestrian lights are counting down from 40sec and everyone ignores them. I mightn't be explaining it very well, but if anyone else knows the corner, I'm sure they'll have seen this too. I've seen several near-misses there every day!

So I think the above people ^, as well as people who dash across several lanes of moving traffic or people who just strut out and expect cars to stop should be fined, whether they have a phone or not! It's ok for everyone to say that it's their own fault if they get hit, but they could cause someone else serious injury by doing it (if the driver swerved, etc.)

christmas2012 · 10-06-2012 12:21AM

I think it is dangerous,to text while crossing a street,not a good idea,you should always pay full attention when crossing a street with big ton metal moving objects with wheels..
I think driving while on the phone or god horror texting is far far worse though as you could definately get killed or in a horriffic collision..

ToddyDoody · 10-06-2012 04:39AM

Yes and like most petty finable offenses, it'll work best if people can self-appoint themselves to the post of watchdog.

Galwayguy35 · 10-06-2012 05:48AM

People that annoy me more are the ones who walk across the lights when they are turned green for the traffic to move. It happens everyday as I am coming from work. And you beep the horn to warn them of the danger and you get the "finger" from them. Morons.:mad:

10-06-2012 02:23PM

Biggins wrote: »

Well you won't I presume till a vehicle turns a sudden corner and hits you I suppose!

Don't see how texting would change the situation.. What way do cross the road?

It someone is retarded enough to cross the road without looking because they're on their phone, then they definitely won't remember this law either. So it's a money making exercise.
For the rest of us who can look left and right, let us do whatever the we want while we cross the empty road. If you fine phone use, then fine every single distracting thing you could possibly do while crossing the road. Sneeze? 60e. Have a conversation? 60e. Mind your dog on a leash? 60e.

As I say, the people who get hit because of their phone are too damn stupid to stop becsuse of a new law. I can use my phone absolutely fine so leave me to it.

DonkeyStyle \o/ · 10-06-2012 04:02PM

I wouldn't take money off people so lightly, you don't know their circumstances or who else is going to suffer at the lack of it. It's inequitable; one man's beer money keeps another man's light & heating on for the month.
I'd expect it from America, but I don't think we should be taking any leads from them.

13-06-2012 11:15AM

cloud493 wrote: »

I seen a woman the other day while waiting for a bus, she was pushing a pram into the busy road, and trying to take out a smoke and light it at the same time. She dropped the smoke, and let go of the pram, while trying to pick it up :eek:

She may be great in the sack though.:pac:
Seriously though, i have seen that and it makes me question the hole "Mother knows best" thing.

Viper_JB · 13-06-2012 11:44AM

They should offer incentives for motorists to run people over who are texting while crossing the roads....that'll sort them out.

starlit · 13-06-2012 11:56AM

I don't know if someone should be fined for this but since motorists could be fined for being on their phone maybe even texting when driving then maybe there should be some kind of fine/contribution for doing so.

Its not safe texting while driving so guess the same should apply for when crossing the road as a pedestrian. I think those on their ipods should be fined rather than those texting though that's more of a safety hazard in my opinion as you might get a false sense its ok to cross the road though you can see but can you hear a car suddenly come up near you?? I think a fine should apply to pedestrians and cyclists especially cyclists for those on their ipods crossing the road. They need their wits about them when on the road.

Though texting crossing the road, pedestrians just need to be careful. I am always doing it myself when traffic is quiet but I try not to if a car is not far from me if crossing a pedestrian crossing or if there is heavy traffic in town and crossing in between cars.

13-06-2012 12:00PM

The attitude in Ireland is that pedestrians are never at fault. I could be texting, on rollerblades and listening to music while smoking and dragging 3 kids behind me across the road 50 feet away from a pedestrian crossing. If i get hit by a car, its always the drivers fault.

Lenn Brennan · 13-06-2012 12:06PM

some pyjama wearing filth bag walked out in front of me in the car on parnell st. today, I had to jam on, she didn't even look up from her phone

13-06-2012 12:08PM

Lenn Brennan wrote: »

some pyjama wearing filth bag walked out in front of me in the car on parnell st. today, I had to jam on, she didn't even look up from her phone

Thanks for saving the life of pyjamas.

Lenn Brennan · 13-06-2012 12:11PM

id say the hoop on her would have left a serious dent

TommyKnocker · 13-06-2012 01:00PM

The sad fact is that the majorrrity do no obey the rules of the road, whether they be motorists, cyclists or pedestrians.

Motorists use phones, read papers, shave, apply makeup, eat breakfast etc while driving. The amber light now means go faster and the red light means 2 more.

Cyclists just do what ever the hell they want. Ear phones in, oblivious to what is going on around them. Ignore traffic lights. Undertake, zig zag through traffic lanes as required etc.

Pedestrians are akin to cyclists. They wallk around in a world of their own, earphones in or on their phone. Will step of the foot path without looking up. Will cross the road where ever they like, no matter the proximity of the nearest safe crossing.

The Gardai. I have see them behave in the above manner while driving in cars/motor bikes, on push bikes and while walking and ignoring what is going on around them.

We already have laws in place for the majority of the above, they are just not enforced. So I don't see the point of bringing in even more laws which will just be added to the list of laws not enforced. Start enforcing the laws we do have wold be a good start.

Capt'n Midnight · 13-06-2012 01:05PM

Biggins wrote: »

Jaywalking is defined as recklessly crossing the road, and in the US is a traffic safety violation.

This has nothing to do with texting.

Jaywalking is something taken seriously in some parts of the US, and always has been. Germany is another place where people only cross the road at pedestrian crossings when the green man shows.

It's a matter of culture / enforcement.

When in Rome , be careful even if you have the green man

Wossack · 13-06-2012 01:07PM

thankfully this is a multiple choice poll, so I can vote to have them fined, and Biggins to be shoved under a bus

aaronjumper · 13-06-2012 01:30PM

I was almost hit by a car because I was busy flirting with some young one.
It was a stupid thing to do and I have since changed my ways.
I think it's a good idea.

The people on here that reckon this is an over reaction, in my opinion, should probably take an extra minute to think about this.
It's the equivalent to crossing the road with your eyes closed.
For those that would argue "sure you would hear the car coming" trust me, you wouldn't.

I am just glad the car had good brakes or they would have been scraping bits of my face off the windscreen.

13-06-2012 01:36PM

aaronjumper wrote: »

I was almost hit by a car because I was busy flirting with some young one.
It was a stupid thing to do and I have since changed my ways.
I think it's a good idea.

The people on here that reckon this is an over reaction, in my opinion, should probably take an extra minute to think about this.
It's the equivalent to crossing the road with your eyes closed.
For those that would argue "sure you would hear the car coming" trust me, you wouldn't.

I am just glad the car had good brakes or they would have been scraping bits of my face off the windscreen.

Was she worth it?
Nearly getting killed i mean.

aaronjumper · 13-06-2012 01:37PM

RVP 11 wrote: »

Was she worth it?
Nearly getting killed i mean.

Yes. She was

kincsem · 13-06-2012 01:42PM

Texting while crossing a road - should you be fined?

Fined, and the phone crushed.

13-06-2012 01:44PM

aaronjumper wrote: »

Yes. She was

Well i can understand that over someone texting their ma "dinner on ma? nearly home":D

Amirani · 13-06-2012 02:01PM

doovdela wrote: »

I think those on their ipods should be fined rather than those texting though that's more of a safety hazard in my opinion as you might get a false sense its ok to cross the road though you can see but can you hear a car suddenly come up near you?? I think a fine should apply to pedestrians and cyclists especially cyclists for those on their ipods crossing the road. They need their wits about them when on the road

Lets also ban radios in cars so, surely they're just as much of a distraction as iPods? Maybe passengers shouldn't be allowed in cars either in case a conversation ensues, as having a conversation with somebody is far more distracting than listening to music. Sure drivers "need their wits about them when on the road".

starlit · 13-06-2012 02:37PM

NiallSparky wrote: »

Lets also ban radios in cars so, surely they're just as much of a distraction as iPods? Maybe passengers shouldn't be allowed in cars either in case a conversation ensues, as having a conversation with somebody is far more distracting than listening to music. Sure drivers "need their wits about them when on the road".

I mainly focusing on pedestrians and cyclists. Yes radios are distractions but you can minimize that distraction compared to an ipod your in the moment kind of thing and not aware of what's happening around you as much as when driving a car, a car yes you need a lot of concentration but still think ipods are more hazardous than radios. Yes a conversation can be a distraction, just a matter of minimizing that distraction. Yes all drivers need their wits about them when they're driving not just pedestrians and cyclists alike!

Capt'n Midnight · 13-06-2012 02:41PM

NiallSparky wrote: »

Lets also ban radios in cars so, surely they're just as much of a distraction as iPods? Maybe passengers shouldn't be allowed in cars either in case a conversation ensues, as having a conversation with somebody is far more distracting than listening to music. Sure drivers "need their wits about them when on the road".

Instead let's remove soundproofing from cars and set a maximum volume level on the radio.

If you are ever awoken by sirens remember they are only that loud because motorists are cocooned in a soundproof box. There is no point in cyclists or pedestrians using bells or shouting, it just won't be heard.

Texting while crossing a road - should you be fined?

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