Technology has made a lot of people forget their surroundings and just focus on their gadgets without realizing the dangers that can happen when they get distracted.
In New Jersey, a new bill has passed that would make people who are caught texting while walking pay a certain fine or even serve a jail sentence.
The fine could reach up to $50, while a jail sentence could last up to 15 days. Either the person would pay the fine or be placed behind bars or be punished with both.
The bill was sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt. According to Lampitt, a law should be in place in order to dissuade and penalize people who display risky behavior while they are on the road, whether they are walking or driving.
Similar to distracted driving, which occurs when a driver is texting while driving, distracted walking is also linked to a number of accidents on the road.
In a report by CBS 2, it was revealed that, since 2010, the number of accidents that involve distracted pedestrians has increased by 35 percent.
The new bill sparked varying opinions from the public.
One woman recalled the number of times she had been bumped into by people who didn't see her because they were looking down at their devices while walking. However, she is unsure if the bill should be passed as a law. She added that people should simply be more aware of what they're doing.
Another comment from a different individual mentioned how he sees the bill as a pretty silly thing. He said there are real problems to worry about in New Jersey that politicians should focus on more, instead of worrying about the dangers brought by texting while walking.
Twitter user Manuel Alejandro, meanwhile, believes that this issue should indeed be taken more seriously.
#NewLaw: Texting and walking should be illegal, #textingandwalking
— Manuel Alejandro⚽️⚡️ (@manueller) January 27, 2016
A study from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons revealed how many American adults actually believe in the seriousness of the issue on distracted walking. While 78 percent of the respondents think that distracted walking is a serious issue that requires greater awareness, only 29 percent admitted to committing the behavior.
Another individual agreed that people should first keep their phones or at least look up and focus ahead while they are crossing an intersection. He believes that crossing the street while one is texting should incur a fine.
There is no information yet on when the bill will be placed in a voting session. If the bill is passed and found to be an effective deterrent to those who don't realize the danger they pose on the road when they don't look up from their devices, other states might also consider adopting the same campaign of "anti-texting while walking."
