Use A Cellphone While Crossing The Street, Pay Up To A $500 Fine

CHICAGO, IL — With cellphones occupying a larger part of people's daily lives over the years, distracted driving has become a greater safety issue as drivers try to multitask between operating their devices and operating their vehicles. While police have focused on that problem, two Chicago lawmakers are drawing attention to a related topic: distracted walking.

Southwest Side Ald. Edward Burke (14th Ward) and Far South Side Ald. Anthony Beale (9th Ward) introduced a proposed ordinance at Wednesday's City Council meeting that, if passed, would fine pedestrians between $90 and $500 if they are caught using a cellphone or other mobile device while crossing the street. Similar measures already have been enacted in Honolulu and California's San Mateo County. In fact, California will look at a possible statewide ban beginning in January. New York City is also reviewing how it handles the issue.

In making the case for prohibiting and punishing pedestrians on their cellphones at intersections, the bill's sponsors cite statistics by the National Safety Council, which calls distracted driving a "significant safety threat." From 2000 to 2011, the council claims there has been a 400 percent increase in "unintentional cellphone related accidents and deaths."

In Chicago, 44 pedestrians were killed in 2016, a 26 percent spike from 2014. That trend is expected to continue this year, according to the proposed ordinance. The bill, however, does not say how many of those deaths involved the use of mobile devices, and Chicago's Deputy Transportation Commissioner Luann Hamilton told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday that there is no data linking distracted walking and a jump in pedestrian fatalities.

If Burke and Beale want to see their proposal become a reality, however, they're going to need to convince their colleagues. In a WGN-AM interview, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) said pedestrians' common sense — not a fine — should be enough to stop them from walking into danger, so to speak. Instead, drivers are the ones who need to be better when it comes to staying focused on what they're doing, Reilly said.

"As someone who has bounced off the hood of a cab in the middle of a crosswalk, I can tell you those folks need to pay much closer attention to how they’re driving,” he said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel told the Tribune that he needs to look at the ordinance and the issue further before deciding on whether it's a good idea.

Go to the City of Chicago's website to read the full proposed ordinance.

YOUR TURN: What do you think of a proposed "distracted walking" ordinance that would fine pedestrians as much as $500 if they were caught crossing the street while using a cellphone or other mobile device? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

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