In the Name of ‘Safety’: State Lawmakers Propose to Ban…Pedestrian Headphones?
- Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:34pm by
Meredith Jessup
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How far will legislators go to keep you “safe”? Give them an inch…
Arkansas state senator Jimmy Jeffress tried to take a mile last week, but a flurry of national attention led the Democrat to abandon his proposal Tuesday that would have prhibited pedestrians from wearing headphones in both ears while on the street or sidewalk — all in the name of safety.
Arkansas Sen. Jimmy Jeffress said he didn’t originally think that his proposal would have passed the Legislature, but at least wanted a conversation about the dangers of pedestrians paying more attention to their gadgets than their surroundings.
“I got the dialogue before I got it to committee,” Jeffress said shortly before withdrawing the proposal he introduced less than a week ago.
Jeffress, a Democrat from Crossett, acknowledged that he was backing away from the idea partly because of backlash from opponents of the ban. Jeffress’ proposal, which did not specify any penalty, would have allowed pedestrians to listen to music in one earphone.
“I’ve had about half a dozen positive hits on it and ten times that many against it. That’s the thing,” Jeffress said. “I think it’s just time to let everybody know to quit e-mailing me.”
But another state lawmaker, New York Sen. Carl Kruger, is doubling down on his own efforts to ban pedestrians’ use of electronic devices while crossing streets in cities with a population of 1 million or more. In fact, Kruger condemned Jeffress for backing down on his public safety proposal.
“I don’t know [Jeffress], but shame on him because in the process that goes forward it’s not a question of whether or not you pass a bill,” the Democrat from Brooklyn said. “You also file a bill because it may be a cornerstone for others to use.”
According to the Associated Press, Kruger has actually been pushing for his ban since 2007 but believes his best chance may come this year. “It’s important to press the issue, because it’s an issue worthy of the pressure,” he said. “There is a definite, demonstrated need for this legislation.”
Kruger claims stringent restrictions on use of electronic devices are needed, pointing to a series of accidents in his home district involving distracted pedestrians.
Self-identified libertarian commentator John Stossel sounded off on both legislators’ proposals with predictable scorn.
“What’s next: no walking and chewing gum because some Americans can’t?” Stossel wrote Tuesday. “Just because something is wrong or dangerous doesn’t mean that banning it will solve the problem.”
But earlier this month, the Governors Highway Safety Association warned that pedestrian fatalities have risen slightly in recent months and on a national scale, pedestrians make up about 12 percent of traffic fatalities.
“It’s not just distracted drivers,” a spokesman for the safety group noted. “We focus a lot on distracted drivers, but we also need to focus on distracted walkers and joggers.”
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Comments (93)
Race
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 1:20amCircumventing Darwin is a bad idea. Why do you think we’ve already got so many idiots loose on this planet?
Report Post »Anthony
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 1:11amWe already can’t wear headphones while walking/running on the roads or sidewalks or operating vehicles on a military base. I think if you want to see what restrictions the government want to impose on its citizens, just look at what they impose on our military. Its the utopian socialist microcosm.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:46amI am ambivalent on this issue of walking and talking on a cell phone. In trying to decide I’ve considered the following……….
I don‘t think it’s any of the government’s business.
There’s that pesky “right to pursue happiness” thing.
People on cell phones in public are often inconsiderate an obnoxious.
The human race would advance with smarter people if those unable to walk and talk at the same time were taken out of the gene pool.
If one of them walks in front of your moving vehicle, it’s hard to scrape them off your tires.
I just don’t know, what do you think?
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 6:53pmI think you have a great point.
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:41amHow about a nice PSA campaign on pedestrian safety? We don’t need more laws, but this is how they think. Fine people who ignore risks to their own safety. It’s the same with seat belts and helmets.
Report Post »GULFVETCELL13
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:37amSieg heil nanny state! Der fuhrer herr obama und die socialistiche system von amerika
Report Post »Edward
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:37amWhile I dont at all believe in infringment of people’s rights. There is merit to the argument. From a safety point of view people wearing phones in both ears have no idea of there surroundings. Heaven forbid a predator is looking to hurt someone they would have no idea whats going on before its too late. This should be a common sense issue if someone is too dumb to realize things like this then they get what they deserve.
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 1:45amEdward
Report Post »This story has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with walking while texting,walking while chewing gum,walking with headphones on or walking while breathing. The only thing that this story is truly about is that it is NOT the governments business to tell us we cannot do anything unless we have their permission. Government was not created to control our lives, like one of the posts above states, we do not need nor want government controlling our every move. We have the right to make stupid mistakes and unfortuneately some are fatal. The most common “fatal” mistake made is in people that do not understand or care voting these idiots in office when they probably are not even capable or smart enough of being in charge of themselves. .
LogicalMadman
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:36amBefore you know it, they will make you get a walking license to walk on the sidewalks and charge you carbon credits for exhaling CO2.
Report Post »kindling
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:24amWhat is the matter with these people! LEAVE US ALONE! Before we know it we will have to call someone and ask if we can come out of our homes at all. I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF! The federal government has one reason to be and that is to protect our borders from intrusion AND THAT IS IT! This is going to far! Stay our of our lives! I don’t need anyone telling me what to do. Just because the Progressives are all stuck in the narcissistic adult terrible 2’s does not mean the rest of us never grew up. My parents are dead and gone and I don’t need anymore parents. LEAVE US TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN PEACE AND MAKE OUR OWN MISTAKES IF WE WISH!
Report Post »spirited
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:05amWhy be concerned about walking with headphones on or, while texting???
Shoes (yes, shoes) should be the concern!!!
Take flip-flops, …. they are potentially dangerous to wear.
They offer little to no protection from broken glass, dirt and bacteria.
They offer no arch support.
High heels (of any kind) are unnatural.
They can be dangerous!
They cause back and foot problems.
They present the risk of tripping or tipping.
They can be a distraction to other’s; from watching where they are walking or driving.
Besides, outlawing certain footwear will also be a cost savings to health-care.
>Is ‘jay-walking’ legal?
Report Post »Free_Thinker
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:37pmWhen will they invent a pill to “fix stupid”? Please hurry!
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:36pmOh wouldn’t it be great when/if we ever get to see a headline like this?
‘Safety’: Citizens Propose to Ban…State Lawmakers
Report Post »datboi448
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:35pmEven though a person in my neighborhood was run over by a vehicle that was supposed to yield while she was wearing headphones, everybody knew that it was her fault for not doing what your’re supposed to do before you cross the street. Look both ways. Plus I hear people listen to music all the time at a volume so loud it makes my ears hurt. Both cases its what we computer guys call, “USER ERROR.”
Report Post »Hmschlmom
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:23pmCan we just have each senator personally bubble wrap all of their constituents? And by all means, ban everything but salad with tofu as well. After all… we cannot be trusted.
Freedom is messy folks. I’d rather take my chances, thanks…
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:22pmI wear my headphones when downtown so I don’t have to hear the homeless pestering me for spare change every fifty feet.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 6:51pmHere’s a great way to stop them pestering you; Carry a sandwich. When they ask for money hand them the sandwich. 9 out of 10 times they’ll turn down the sandwich. :-)
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:19pmAren’t these people fans of Darwinism? What happened to natural selection? Survival of the fittest? How did they manage to shift it to the strong have to be made weak, so the weak don’t get their feelings hurt? More importantly, why do we (the strong) let them weaken us?
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 6:49pmThat’s a great question. Common sense is dead and I fear it will never come back!
Report Post »twofoot_trucker
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:18pmWonderful. One more example of the mentality that says, “We, the lawmakers, know best what’s for you little people”. It infests all levels of government and is absolutely disgusting.
We have enough problems in Arkansas to worry about without nonsense like this. Here is a novel thought, if you are doing something stupid and are killed or injured, it’s your responsibility.
Report Post »WAR PIGS CRAWLING
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 5:05am@2′trucker…You are right on the money. Personal responsibility and self control go a long ways…
Report Post »B-Neil
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:18pmThe Insurance Companies should be warning people. They should tell people there not covered if an accident occures and there found to have been wearing headphones or texting. Individuals must be held responcible for there own actions. Government is not doing the job we hired them to do. They have no right to create responcibilities without our approval….Carry on McDuff
Report Post »tnturner
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 1:00amNow we’re going to have pedestrians insurance?
Report Post »ANTISOCIAL-IST
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:11pmplease mommy-government, hold my hand.
Report Post »dinadp
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:04pmWow! Last week, some posters were putting down Canada because a man was arrested for shooting at arsonists trying to fire bomb his house (I’m against that, BTW). But here you have someone who wants to ban headphones for pedestrians. Would the penalty be a huge fine to help pay down the debt? People in glass houses……
Report Post »Maji
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:53pmIf these dummies get killed… who would vote them into office
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:49pmif people are stupid enough to text & fall in the pond Mall , why should we protect them ?
Report Post »& how we’re gonna ban the headphones ?????? are we gonna see foot pursuit on live TV now for non compliant pedestrians ?
RightPolitically
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:49pmHow come they all think they are so darn smart? If they were, the country would not be in the sad shape it is. How about lowering taxes for all and stop theft and corruption in Washington, D.C.
Report Post »ANTISOCIAL-IST
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:12pmsmart? or master complex?
Report Post »parkerislegend
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:48pmwe americans are too stupid to multi-task i guess. that lady who walked into a mall fountain last week could be his mascot. wheres the personal responsibility???
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:59amHow about PAYING ATTENTION!?
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 7:06amThere isn’t any. People are too stupid, except the person who invented all this technology and made billions, except the people who made the money to buy the technology, it’s just that the technology made them stupid so now the government needs to tell them how and when to use it.
Report Post »Maji
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:47pmCan’t legislate away stupidity! Cause if that was possible we could act on “Obama” and MSNBC!!
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 4:17amBingo !
Report Post »TERMLIMITSNOW
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:40pmgay
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:05pmI know, we can ban everything and just live like plants. How about we bring back personal responsibility? If you fall into a fountain because you were texting it is because you did something stupid. If a person walks out into the street while listening to tunes and gets hit by a car, it is because you were doing something stupid. These days, nobody is “stupid.” It is always someone else’s fault.
ah.. no… Sometimes it is you own fault.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:06amSounds racist to me.
Report Post »We can’t have that.
exdem
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:08amNow we can’t walk without government regulation?? We have oatmeal sold @ Mc Donalds and now this. When are they going to regulate how much butter we can have on our popcorn at the movies? Or how large a bubble you can blow with your gum? How about passing a physical fitness test before you can swim at the beach?? Where does this crap end?
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 4:26amThis is going a bit too far, But almost crashed today into a girl talking on her cell phone who pulled right in front of me as I was driving down the highway at 50 mph. She didn’t even look, couldn’t stop, swerved into the oncoming lane, missed her by inches and came close to oncoming traffic. Quite scary actually. But banning walking and texting, that is crazy, let them walk into a pond and they will learn.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 4:36amBanning headphones while walking is crazy too, but there are dangers, I bicycle a lot and would never wear headphones as many do while on the bike, you have to hear to cars and trucks coming up on you, for your own safety. We can’t pass laws against every possible stupid act.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 5:28amOh please mister Federalie…Save me from myself!
Report Post »When are the police going to revolt and not inforce these idiot laws?
grumpyt
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 6:19amJust like NY to find another way to raise $$$ by outlawing something they have no business even thinking about. Well at least I don‘t have to live there if I don’t choose…for now.
Report Post »arkconservative
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 7:11amYou know what just irritates me? This idiot says” I got the dialogue before I got it to committee.” When are they going to get it through their heads? People don’t give a crap what some COMMITTEE has to say about it. Get out from your hiding place. Let us know what stupidity you have on your mind this week….. and…. WE WILL GIVE YOU YOUR DIALOGUE! I have an idea. Let the people be your committe! We all need to call our representatives and tell them. You work for ME! I don’t want you to open your mouth until you run it by me first! IF, you prove that you’re not gonna do something stupid, then MAYBE we will give you a little room to run. Maybe.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 9:26am@EXDEM
“Now we can’t walk without government regulation?? We have oatmeal sold @ Mc Donalds and now this. When are they going to regulate how much butter we can have on our popcorn at the movies? Or how large a bubble you can blow with your gum? How about passing a physical fitness test before you can swim at the beach?? Where does this crap end?”
It ends where you stand up and draw a line in the sand and say “no more”. It ends where you get the courage to disobey their edicts openly and encourage others to do so.
It will never end however if all we do is sit around saying “well, what can ya’ do”.
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 10:24amLet’s ban everyone from going out in the rain, you know because rain can be so distracting and cause so many accidents. Do you want to know how to come up with great ideas like these? All you need is a PHD from an Ivy League school and you can too!
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 11:18amwhy not pass a law banning stupidity. oh wait wed have to arrest our government then wouldnt we? this needs to stop!
Report Post »biggreenboo
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 12:08pm@Ghost
If the government bans butter… somebody will die!!!!!!
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 1:10pmyou know I almost fell over while putting on my underwear this morning, lets ban underwear
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 3:53pmLet’s see……Sex , yeah people get STDs that can cause serious injury or death so we really need to legislate against that, and Ya know a lot of people choke when eating so we could ban all solid foods…….Driving, yeah yeah, people get into wrecks all the time, better ban that…what else what else….Oh oh people drown in pools all the time so we should probably consider nixing those, uuummmm……Cops yeah yeah cops have killed people before we could really slow that down if we let cops carry guns without bullets………………………IDIOTS !!!!!!!!!
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 1:40pmLiberals think they can avoid every possible tragedy.
Report Post »