Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
Divorce, Maintenance, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence
Honolulu in Hawaii has come up with a new law to address the problems of people who text and walk while they cross streets. Anybody doing that now gets a $35 fine. I think that is a pretty good idea, although it is something I have been guilty of myself in the past. We all are just so glued to our phones these days that we don’t realise how dangerous it is. I think if in South Africa we had to pay R475 every time we were caught texting, while crossing a street, we might take it a little bit more seriously. On the other hand, there are so many people who don’t pay fines and don’t follow any rules that it might not worry them.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 02-Feb-18
Post a Comment
Comments
Sinead said:
on Friday 02-Mar-18 04:07 PM
OMG I hate those people !!!! I get road rage for pedestrians ='''D
This is a great idea! Although like you say, there are people who don't pay fines in any case...
cornelie said:
on Wednesday 28-Feb-18 01:43 PM
I totally agree it is so dangerous to text while you walk South Africa must think of a sort of fine to be awarded. But technology is getting so advanced somehow it will get stopped not to text while you walk.
Prishani said:
on Monday 26-Feb-18 05:29 PM
This is fantastic! I often get very annoyed with people who text while they are walking on busy roads. I do think that it would be a very difficult law to implement in South Africa, I also don’t think that our country is as bad in this regard in comparison to other countries around the world.
dune said:
on Tuesday 20-Feb-18 08:45 AM
Perhaps one day when South Africans starts to abide the law, then we should look at implementing such laws, but as things currently stands in our country, highly doubt that it will have any affect on South Africans.
Ashleigh said:
on Friday 16-Feb-18 08:44 AM
I must be honest, walking and texting is bad. I see it with my children. When we go to the shops, cross roads, etc.... I'm always having to check their safety and their whereabouts for them. They really do not see anything outside their phones. I have started banning them with their phones in certain occasions.
Jolene said:
on Monday 12-Feb-18 03:23 PM
The chances that your phone will be stolen before you can get a fine in SA is quite big, this law won’t work here people are still texting and driving never mind texting and walking.
Sharne said:
on Friday 09-Feb-18 07:31 AM
If walking and texting were against the law people would not take it serious, at all.. People would still do it. People would feel: "its my phone so its my rules"
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Monday 05-Feb-18 04:41 PM
People will not take this seriously. People is still testing and driving the same time what will stop them by texting and crossing the Road ? People don't care anymore they think they are the law. People don't even pay traffic fines.
Michelle D said:
on Monday 05-Feb-18 08:21 AM
I think that despite the fact that some people don't always pay fines, it would still act as a deterrent for many people. If it is strictly enforced, fining people when they cross the road texting may open their eyes to the fact that it is a problem and make them think twice before they do it again.
Mathilda Du Preez said:
on Monday 05-Feb-18 08:18 AM
I think it’s here where you "text at own risk" if you want to cross the road while texting it’s your own fault if you get hit by a car.
The road it made for Cars to drive on not for people crossing the road not looking because they are glued to their phones, also that is why there is such a thing as pedestrian crossings they are not there just for decoration
I personally think this new law will not work in SA as people here already do not follow the rules or pay fines
Michelle said:
on Monday 05-Feb-18 08:14 AM
People will not take this seriously as part of the law. Even drivers still ignore the fact that they are not allowed to text while driving. We should start to think that this is for our own safety and not to make money for the government. Paying such a huge amount t just for texting while I’m walking will definitely make me think twice before I use my phone in public.
Alexis said:
on Saturday 03-Feb-18 12:11 PM
It is dangerous, just as bad as being on your phone and driving - there is no paying attention. And the pedestrian will end up blaming the driver, meanwhile he came out too sudden for the driver to do anything - a very good idea to fine them and I feel as though others should also look at doing it
Joyce said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 04:58 PM
I think walking and texting is indeed dangerous. It can cost one’s life, when crossing the street with all concentration on the phone and negligently crossing the street one can get killed by a car or get seriously injured, it can also attract and draw thieves’ attention, they can easily attack, grab and run away with the phone. There is introduced Uber option to a person who does not want to brake law (No Drunk Driving), but people still braking the law by continuing drinking and driving. And I think this law as well be ignored
Tamaryn said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 04:41 PM
I am sure that cell phones are the cause of far more deaths than we realise- whether it be from being on your phone while driving, looking at your phone when crossing the road or trying to capture the perfect pic. I saw a news article the other day of a woman who was trying to take the "perfect selfie" at a cliff's edge and she slipped and fell to her death.
Thabitha said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 04:18 PM
Its true people are lonely because of the cell phones maybe this rule must also be introduced to South Africa our youth is bored or lonely.
Lucretia said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 02:44 PM
I don't think the fine system would work here, however, you are right about us being glued to our phones. I get so sad when I see how much people are missing out on because they are so engrossed in their own world with their phones. Look at people in restaurants, they don't talk much anymore because they are too busy on their phones. I was at breakfast the other day and I was so sadden by a young child sitting with his dad having breakfast and nothing was being said because the dad was so busy on his phone. People in malls don't "window shop" because their noses are stuck in their phones. I have a young "stepson" of 4 and I make sure that I give as much of my time to him when he is with us as possible, playing snakes and ladders, reading, etc because I know that one of the days he is going to get his hands on a cell phone and that will be our time with him lost......
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 02:10 PM
these rules not this*
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 02:09 PM
I live in South Africa where it is not possible to walk in the street with ones phone out - it will get snatched and you can kiss your phone goodbye so it doesn't really bother me if we get fined. I don't really see pedestrians on their phones, I more see them just walking and not concentrating. Like you said also, how many people pay traffic fines anyway? And I highly doubt they going to issue a summons if you don't pay the R475.00... Point is we can create all this rules but in an almost lawless country - what is the point?
Megan said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 12:01 PM
Truthfully whether the law is enforced or not here in South Africa, people would continue. This is basically the same as when people were forced to pay e-Tolls? Another pointless fee and I wouldn't put it passed our Government honestly, looking for another way to get money from citizens.
Melissa said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 11:19 AM
This law will not be obeyed in South Africa. If a pedestrian gets run over by a car then it's their own fault. They shouldn't be texting and crossing a road at the same time. It's logical but some people don't think like we do.
Nicolle said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 10:30 AM
Survival of the fittest! If you are so addicted to your phone, that you cannot put it away while placing your person in the path of danger, then, like David has said: "Darwinism".
Bianca R said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 10:10 AM
This sounds great but unfortunately the majority of people in our country just have a blatant disregard for even simple rules of the road, speed limits are violated, robots skipped and yellow lanes ignored. If a system was implemented where people were fined because they were texting while crossing the roads, I am sure most would ignore it! We all know how dangerous texting and driving is and I still see nearly every person in traffic, still doing it...
Daniella said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 09:42 AM
This would never work here, people would never pay and there definitely isn't enough law enforcement to actually implement same. I am personally a very cautious pedestrian and the ones I encounter when driving definitely aren't and it really is quite frustrating
Bianca N said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 09:16 AM
As many other laws that seem to make sense, this also won't really succeed in South Africa as there are not really consequences for people who do not follow the rules or break the law. People should realize that if you decide to text while crossing a street, especially a busy one, that the chances of you getting hurt are greater and it would more than likely be your own fault and that nobody else will be to blame for your mistakes. Surely you can look away from your phone for a minute to cross a street and make sure that you make it across safely.
Sarah said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 08:58 AM
That won't work in South Africa cause some people don't even pay traffic fines or e-toll, the only way I can see if it works if we get some kind of system. People should just be more responsible.
Clare said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 08:55 AM
I don't see why this should be a Law ( It wont work ) I agree when you are driving then you should get in trouble but walking really people are people and should take responsibility of their own actions so if they want to walk across the road and get hit by a car is their own silliness.
Liz said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 08:39 AM
I also do not think this would work in South Africa there is not enough policing at places where people would be crossing streets and I also do not think that people would even bother paying the fine. I agree it is obviously dangerous to cross the street whilst texting but I think there are other more pressing issues South Africa can deal with and create new laws for.
fikile said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 08:37 AM
I don't think that this law will work in South Africa simple because South Africans always find away out of paying such things, cause they don't eve pay the e-toll so I don't think that the would pay a fine for texting while crossing the road.
Jadine Richards said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 08:13 AM
That would never work in South Africa because people have a general disregard for any rules. I however do not text and walk because I am concerned about being robbed. Hawaii has too many rules though and this new texting and walking one seems to be a bit much in my opinion.
david said:
on Friday 02-Feb-18 07:06 AM
if you get hit by a vehicle while texting and crossing the street, it is darwinism at work.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
