New York To Ban iPods While Crossing Street?

An anonymous reader writes to mention Reuters is reporting that New York State Senator Carl Kruger is looking to institute a $100 fine for using electronic gadgets while crossing the street. Citing three pedestrian deaths in his Brooklyn district as the main driving reason he believe Government has an obligation to protect its citizens. "Tech-consuming New Yorkers trudge to work on sidewalks and subways like an army of drones, appearing to talk to themselves on wireless devices or swaying to seemingly silent tunes. 'I'm not trying to intrude on that,' Kruger said. 'But what's happening is when they're tuning into their iPod or Blackberry or cell phone or video game, they're walking into speeding buses and moving automobiles. It's becoming a nationwide problem.'"

Comments

Odd

[LaughingCoder]

When I am out walking wearing headphones I find myself looking back-and-forth-and-back-and-forth multiple times when crossing a street because I am accustomed to relying upon hearing to augment sight. I almost feel blind when I can't also hear the traffic. Something tells me this law won't help. As a wise man once said, "you can't make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious".

You Just Don't Get It, Do You?

[Greyfox]

This isn't about the government writing laws that prevent you from killing yourself in stupid ways. This is about the government writing laws that prevent you from killing yourself in stupid ways that create lots of paperwork for the government! Do you have any idea how much paperwork has to get filled out if a bus hits a pedestrian? Not to mention the meetings and reviews and... it goes on and on for months!

But yeah if you want kill yourself in other stupid ways go right ahead. Just don't get public transit involved in the equation.