Death by i-pod

[Gob]

DEATH by iPod is being blamed as a contributing factor to the 25 per cent rise in the number of pedestrian fatalities in NSW.

The ''iPod zombie trance'' people get into when walking, driving or pedalling around listening to their mobile devices is being blamed for an increase in collisions and even deaths in Europe and the US.

The issue has been highlighted in Sydney by the death of a 46-year-old Glebe woman reportedly wearing headphones when she was knocked down and killed by an ambulance on Saturday night.

There is speculation she might not have heard the ambulance siren when crossing Parramatta Road at Mallett Street at Camperdown.

She was one of at least six pedestrians hit by vehicles on state roads over the weekend, including a 34-year-old man who died after being hit by a bus in Leumeah early yesterday morning. Although the number of people killed on NSW roads so far this calendar year has dropped, pedestrian deaths have climbed by 25 per cent to 53, compared to 44 for the same period last year.

Harold Scruby, of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, said research into deaths resulting from people not paying attention to traffic while using mobile devices was scant in NSW.

'''Death by iPod' is a relatively new phenomenon so it may be slow in showing up because it can sometimes be a year between the fatality and the coroner's finding,'' he said. ''But we should be asking ourselves why are total road deaths declining while pedestrian fatalities continue to escalate? Maybe listening devices could be part of the explanation.''

Distracted pedestrians who cause accidents are liable for a $100 fine and face jail on more serious charges but latest NSW policy figures last year show there were 406 fines issued to pedestrians not paying attention to road safety.

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mp3s ... 14w4d.html

[Guinevere]

Anyone who wears their pod on a bike is an idiot akin to those who ride helmetless. And in the us it is illegal to wear headphones while driving a car in many states (for good reason). And those walking or running and wearing them need to turn the volume down. What happened to plain old common sense.

[Big RR]

Guin--you sure about headphone wearing being illegal in all states? I doubt that there is a federal law on this, nor have I heard fo federal pressure to conform state laws (like there was with the 21 yr old drinking age). I tried googling it to get a state by state list, but all I could find were blogs that had unsubstantiated information, so I was dubious and did not post a link.

[Gob]

What happened to plain old common sense.

It died of embarrassment years ago...

[oldr_n_wsr]

Along with iPods is people yapping on cell phones oblivious to everyone and everything around them. They'll be walking and then just stop to emphasize some point in their conversation. Then, your trying to talk to someone be it one on one or at a dinner party or where ever and that phone rings and you are immediatley put on "real life" hold so that this "really important person" can answer this "really important call". I got in trouble with my wifes family for "scolding" my wifes neices husband when he spent about half an hour yapping and texting on his phone (at the dinner table) while we were all out celebrating my mother in laws 80th birthday. He probably would have continued "phoning" all night if I hadn't scolded him. But I'm the one who caused trouble.

PEOPLE, BE WHERE YOU ARE, PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE YOU ARE WITH.

I understand emergencies, but how many of us have been around when someone took a phone call that was an actual emergency?

[The Hen]

Here's Katie Price dressed up as as ipod at the launch of her ipod range.



As far as I'm concerned, that's the death OF ipod.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Who's Katie Price?

[Gob]

That bird in the image Hen posted, the one with the comedy tits.

Katie Price aka "Jordan"

[Crackpot]

why should we care?

[Gob]

You most certainly shouldn't.

[loCAtek]

All the more reason I'll never get one. I just whistle, me.