Texting While Walking to be Banned?

As you know, I've discussed various issues related to handheld cellphone use while driving on these pages.Did you know there's a growing movement to ban texting while walking?New Jersey is the latest state to jump on the texting-while-walking bandwagon.One lawmaker is proposing a $50 fine, plus jail time for distracted pedestrians caught texting while crossing the street.A few years ago, New York City tried enacting a similar ban, but that proposal was voted down.Some estimates show that 78% of pedestrian versus car injuries across the country are due to distracted pedestrians on their phones.So far, California remains free from such texting-while-walking bans.Los Angeles has hundreds of busy intersections where pedestrian accidents occur all-too-frequently.If you're crossing one, it's a good idea to put your phone away until after you've crossed the street.Stay safe as you walk out-and-about, and you can find more pedestrian safety tips here.