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Dutch Town Pilots Lightlines To Help Distracted Smartphone Users Cross the Road (autoexpress.co.uk)

Posted by msmash on from the humanity's-last-hope dept.

An anonymous reader writes: A Dutch municipality has introduced pedestrian traffic lights specifically designed to help smartphone users avoid stepping into traffic by displaying a colorful strip of light on the pavement. Built by Dutch firm HIG Traffic Systems, the new +LightLine light comes with a LED strip that illuminates the pavement with a horizontal strip before the road crossing. Smartphone users looking at their phone will see the color of the strip beneath their feet before stepping out into the road.

5 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Darwin is not pleased by argStyopa · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Seriously, at what point do we finally just let stupid people kill themselves?

    --
    -Styopa
  2. Re:You know.. by The-Ixian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Now they just need to do the same for drivers.... move the traffic lights and road signs so that they can be seen while still looking down at your phone...

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  3. Re:You know.. by chefmonkey · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If you've been to Holland, you'll notice that the drivers are extremely careful -- it would be hard to get hit by a car. I'm certain these light-lines are to keep pedestrians from getting run over by bicycles. In Holland, I think bikes actually earn points, Deathrace-2000-style, for aiming at pedestrians.

  4. Better idea by nwaack · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've got a better idea. Rather than warning strips, they should install cameras to take pictures of the idiots that are too addicted to their phones to obey traffic signals. Then they should post those pictures on the internet so we can publicly shame them. After all, most phone addicts only care about one thing more than their phone, and that's how others feel about their online persona.

  5. Re:You know.. by PoopJuggler · · Score: 1, Interesting

    This is a perfect example of the difference between Europe and America. Europe swims with the flow of the universe, while America swims against it. Europe moves forward in time, America moves backwards..