The Japanese carrier Docomo introduced the new “safety mode” for pedestrians
New “safety mode” by the carrier Docomo for preventing pedestrians from texting while walking
Texting while behind the wheels is a very dangerous activity that causes thousands of car accidents everyday and really kills people worldwide. The risks from this habit come from the distraction of the driver. Many companies and carriers are providing campaigns against texting while behind the wheels. They aim to raise awareness on the topic and to encourage drivers not use their smartphones while driving. In some countries and states it is forbidden by the law. Most of the campaigns are held for drivers. However they are not the only victims of this dangerous habit. Pedestrians also get involved in accidents when they get distracted while walking, often because they are texting. Some of the most frequent and harmful incidents that happen to pedestrian are falling into an open shaft, tripping, getting hit by a car etc.
The growing number of accidents has evoked the authorities to forbid texting while walking. One of the places where you can get a fine if you are texting while enjoying a stroll is New Jersey.
According to a research, the pedestrians that are distracted by texting while walking are nearly 4 times more vulnerable to get involved in accidents on the road. They often cause accidents or become less aware of the surroundings and disregard safety guidelines.
One of the biggest carriers in Japan, Docomo has announced its new feature named “safety mode.” It is especially designed for pedestrians, using Android-running devices. The new capability will enable the smartphone to detect whether the user is walking. If you attempt to use your phone while you are on the move, you will see the message “Using your smartphone while walking is dangerous. The phone senses you are walking. Please stop.” If you decide to ignore it, you can use your device for only 10 seconds more before it shuts down. Docomo provides the new mode with three degrees of sensitivity. The ad campaign for the mode is rather shocking, but it can really save lives and provide better safety on the road.
Source: Docomo
