Did you know that there have been over 20,000 sidewalk accidents since 2009 in Canada alone due to pedestrians who text while they walk?
“Thousands of Canadians are hurt each month after bumping into street poles and other sidewalk obstructions – and even each other – while texting on their mobile phones,” says Dr. Thumbson, lead researcher with the consumer advocacy group Canadians Raising Awareness for Street-related Harm (C.R.A.S.H.) “Textus interruptus, or a lack of awareness of one’s environment while texting, has drastically increased, especially with today’s youth as they just can’t stop playing with it. To ensure that pedestrians are kept safe, we believe that Safe Text Zones should be installed on major streets across Canada. It’s a real safety issue and it’s time the government took action.”
Virgin Mobile Canada has heard the call and is taking action to make sidewalks safer for people texting. It has set up prototype Safe Text Zones in Toronto on sections of Queen Street and Yonge Street and on Vancouver’s Robson Street to demonstrate its solution. These Safe Text Zones feature padded street pillars and are patrolled by Virgin Angels armed with padded shields for additional protection.
Virgin Mobile is also making available a free iPhone app that will alert texters as they enter into a Safe Text Zone so they know when they’re ok to keep typing without having to look up.
Thanks, Virgin Mobile Canada! Now do your part and get involved. You can text your message of support to Virgin Mobile hotlines at 647-381-TEXT or 778-TEXT-400.
Also, don’t forget to check today’s date…