Should iPods, phones be banned for pedestrians crossing roads?

Sydney, Jan 31 (ANI): People in NSW may soon be required to stop using their iPods and phones while crossing the road.

The call to pass this law has been backed by the NSW police too.

It is the latest attempt to improve traffic safety by legislating against technological distraction but the question is how to enforce it.

In New York, a bill is pending in the transport committee that would ban pedestrians, including joggers, from using gadgets while crossing the street.

The NSW Police said, "should legislation such as that described be introduced, it would receive our support and ongoing attention," reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

National pedestrian road deaths have been falling consistently, from 351 in 1996 to 173 last year. In NSW, there has been a slight rise in pedestrian road deaths from 59 to 64 between 2009 and 2010, the RTA says.

NSW Police said the community should be mindful that road use - whether as a driver, rider or pedestrian - was a complex task requiring alertness, awareness, compliance with the road rules and good judgment at all times.

"Any distraction from the task of safely using our roads has the potential consequence of reducing road safety and for that reason we encourage all road users to apply their best efforts and full attention to the task at hand when on our roads," it said. (ANI)