Smartphones pose a certain danger to their owners – and it’s not just because they could potentially cause cancer. It’s also because you could be hit by a car because you’re not paying attention to the world around you.

To a certain extent, we’re all familiar with seeing people on the street with their faces glued to their smartphones’ screens, but how many of us have thought of the danger this type of behavior implies?

In an attempt of keeping pedestrians safe in traffic, South Korea’s Metropolitan Government has partnered with the National Police Agency, Seoul, and came up with a series of preventive measures.

As part of a pilot initiative, the Seoul government has unveiled two new warning signs; they are meant to raise aware of this modern problem. One of them reads, “Warning: Using Smartphone while Walking,” and it will be placed near street crossings, cautioning pedestrians of the dangers of getting hit by a car while texting.

The second one, which portrays a pedestrian with a smartphone in his hand, is designed to discourage people from using their phones – and getting lost in their digital activity – while they’re walking in public spaces. This one reads, “Walk Safely.”

To begin with, the authorities will test the program in five districts of Seoul (City Hall, Hongdae, Gangnam Station, Yonsei University, and Jamsil Station). These areas have been identified as reporting high levels of smartphone-related accidents among citizens between 10 and 30 years old.

Some people consider these preventive measures as silly, but they are meant to save the lives of people absorbed by their smartphones. However, it’s not the first time we see this kind of warning signs installed in cities.

In the town of Augsburg, Germany, authorities have implemented a similar program which included the installment of luminous traffic lights at the floor level. These were designed to catch the attention of smartphone users who did not look up before crossing the street.

Another pilot program was tested in a theme park in Chongqing, China, a few years ago, as well as in parts of Washington DC. Both cities had created walking lanes for people who texted.
Image Source: Mashable