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Australia To Fight iPod Use By Pedestrians

Kilrah_il writes "In recent years the number of people killed on roads in New South Wales, Australia has dropped, but strangely enough, the number of pedestrians killed has risen. Some think it's because of the use of iPods and other music players making people not attentive to road dangers (the so-called 'iPod Zombie Trance'). Based on this (unproven) assumption, the Pedestrian Council has started a campaign in an effort to educate the people, but apparently it isn't enough. Now, some are pushing for the government to enact laws to help eradicate the problem. 'The government is quite happy to legislate that people can lose two demerit points for having music up too loud in their cars, but is apparently unconcerned that listening devices now appear to have become lethal pieces of entertainment,' [Harold Scruby of the Pedestrian Council of Australia] said. 'They should legislate appropriate penalties for people acting so carelessly towards their own welfare and that of others. ... Manufacturers should be made to [warn] consumers of the risks they run.'"

22 of 450 comments (clear)

  1. You won't hear it coming. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    http://lukeroberts.deviantart.com/art/You-won-t-hear-it-coming-16413967

  2. Re:What the.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    It is a penal colony. You have to expect that the rules and regulations are going to be stronger.

  3. Re:what is with the Aussies by causality · · Score: 4, Funny

    Darn - Australia has gone to goodie two shoes fascists. Seems like all the news coming from there is about less freedom.

    They are either following America's example, or they are showing America how to do it right.

    --
    It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
  4. Selection by VendettaMF · · Score: 4, Funny

    As long as they're eradicated before they breed I see no reason to interfere in this natural and culturally benevolent phenomenon.

    --
    kartune85 : Incapable of reason, observation or learning. A kind of dim, drab, flightless parrot.
    1. Re:Selection by causality · · Score: 4, Funny

      As long as they're eradicated before they breed I see no reason to interfere in this natural and culturally benevolent phenomenon.

      The downside is all the perfectly good cars that might get damaged. I guess failing to account for that is why you were marked "Troll".

      --
      It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
    2. Re:Selection by VendettaMF · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sufficient robustness to retain sexual appeal after being hit by a fast moving vehicle is a definite positive selection trait...

      --
      kartune85 : Incapable of reason, observation or learning. A kind of dim, drab, flightless parrot.
  5. demerits? by frovingslosh · · Score: 3, Funny

    'The government is quite happy to legislate that people can lose two demerit points for having music .........

    Demerits? Sounds rather childish. But at least you lose 2 demerits, which sounds much better to me than being given 2 demerits.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  6. Harold Scruby is a known nut-job by Phurge · · Score: 4, Funny
    --
    I'll see your hokum and raise you a boondoggle.
  7. iWalking by martin-boundary · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should call the offense iWalking. Every modern country should reserve at least two letters of the alphabet for traffic offenses.

  8. Electric Cars will make it worse by mark99 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Electric cars emit much less noise. I think we will need to have a protocol whereby iPods can sense potential collisions and warn the listeners. Cars are getting anti-collision devices and software anyway in the coming years, they shoud expand the protocolls to iPods too.
    Hmm - maybe I should patent that idea :).

  9. Re:What the.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Really, who modded this "Informative"?

    New Zealanders

  10. Re:What the.... by ozmanjusri · · Score: 4, Funny
    New Zealanders

    True, from Christchurch.

    They were actually aiming for a "Funny" mod, but the mouse pointer was bouncing all over the screen.

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  11. Re:They have a point by pspahn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Clearly, the problem here is the bicycles. They are a nuisance to society and garner nothing but contempt from the rest of the civilized world. I would support legislation that outlawed bicycle riding on public streets. For first time offenders, they must install one of those nine foot orange flags things on the back of their bike. Second offense, their bike will be impounded and can only be retrieved from the impound lot, which sits at the bottom of a very steep hill. Third offense, the bike is confiscated and mandatory roller blades must be worn by the offender for a period of one year (similar to an ankle monitor).

    It's high time we walkers and drivers take back our streets.

    --
    Someone flopped a steamer in the gene pool.
  12. Re:Lefties by PPH · · Score: 2, Funny

    It would help if they didn't drive on the wrong side of the road here... (recent immigrant)

    The bottom? (Northern hemisphere resident)

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  13. Re:Duhh... by clone53421 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Reminds me of the best warning label I think I’ve ever seen:

    Caution: Any activity involving motion or height involves the possibility of accidental injury.

    It then went on to say something more, but I stopped reading there. Really, that’s classic. They should put that label on EVERYTHING. By law!

    --
    Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
  14. Re:What the.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    New Zealanders

    True, from Christchurch. They were actually aiming for a "Funny" mod, but the mouse pointer was bouncing all over the screen.

    The research that backs this up is shakier than Haiti.

  15. in other news fun is deadly by molecular · · Score: 3, Funny

    in other news, the association of seeing danger everywhere (famous for pushing legislation against children running) has found that last year, about 45% of all deaths occurred while people had fun and therefore concluded all fun should be banned. "it's just too lethal", a spokesperson said, adding that 63% of all lethal accidents happened outdoors, while 36% occured within walls. Efforts by the organization now focus on determining what the fuck happened to the missing 1%, so finally action can be taken to remove the deadly housing from peoples lives.

  16. Re:What the.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They were actually aiming for a "Funny" mod, but the mouse pointer was bouncing all over the screen.

    Hard to hold it steady when the sheep keeps moving.

  17. Re:Duhh... by discord5 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Caution: Any activity involving motion or height involves the possibility of accidental injury.

    Caution: sign has sharp edges

  18. Re:They have a point by Zoxed · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you do not mind shelling out then this will wake them up Air Zound :-)

  19. Re:What the.... by silentcoder · · Score: 2, Funny

    >we stopped giggling at penal because it sounds like penis.

    Speak for yourself...

    --
    Unicode killed the ASCII-art *
  20. harsh penalties by Colin+Smith · · Score: 2, Funny

    particularly when death is the penalty . darwin would be proud .

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    Deleted