Lawmakers Propose Banning Talking On Cell Phone While Crossing Street

[The Straight Story]

Lawmakers Propose Banning Talking On Cell Phone While Crossing Street

MILWAUKEE -- Lawmakers in Illinois and New York want to make it illegal to talk on a cell phone while crossing the street.

12 News checked to see whether signs at crosswalks in Wisconsin might someday read "Walk -- Don’t Talk."

Wisconsin lawmakers have been reluctant to ban cell phones while driving. Would they consider crossing the street while talking on a cell phone to be a safety risk?

West Allis State Rep. Tony Staskunas has pushed for a ban on cell phones while driving but thinks a ban on walking and talking is going too far.

"I think using a cell phone does distract you anywhere, but I think it's an overreach to basically ban the use of a cell phone while walking across the street," Staskunas said.

http://www.wisn.com/news/16243167/detail.html

[LisaM]

1. iPods too!

Last week a woman with a latte, an iPod, and an overstuffed Trader Joe's bag (I am not making this up) bumped into me as she was crossing the street and NEVER NOTICED ME. She almost shoved me into traffic (she was much taller than I am). It was a little ruffling to say the least. I don't think it's all that safe to walk around all disengaged from your physical surroundings like that.

[Speck Tater]

2. Everywhere you look, lawyers are trying to destroy...

... Darwinian natural selection!

I say let survival of the smartest solve the problem. Do we really want people who are so stupid as to cross a street without paying attention to be reproducing? Seriously.

[LisaM]

3. I don't mind if they get run over

but did you see what happened to me?

I got knocked down by a roller blader once when I was jogging, too. And another time I was getting on a bus and another woman was getting off and she gored me with her spiked heel (literally put a hole in my arch).