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The street made safe for texting and walking
Carolyn Armstrong04.03.08
Brick Lane has been branded an accident blackspot - for clumsy mobile phone users who crash into lamp posts while texting.
A survey found the Hoxton street is Britain's worst thoroughfare for "walk-and-text" injury victims.
Across London, it is claimed there were more than 68,000 such accidents last year, with victims' injuries ranging from minor bruises to fractured skulls.
The blame was placed on the large amount of street furniture such as lamp posts and bins and a growing number of pedestrians attracted by the area's curry houses and bars.
Now Brick Lane has been made the country's first "Safe Text" street, with brightly coloured padding, similar to that used on rugby posts, placed on lamp posts to test if it helps protect dozy mobile users.
If the trial is successful, the idea could be rolled out to other London blackspots, including Charing Cross Road, Old Bond Street, Oxford Street and Church Street, Stoke Newington.
The survey, by text information company 118.com, revealed 44 per cent of mobile users backed the idea of the padding to save themselves from injury and mild embarrassment. Other suggestions included "mobile motorways", like cycle lanes, giving people a brightly coloured line to follow to stay out of danger.
William Ostrom of 118.com said: "The study found Brick Lane was the worst for a combination of reasons. It has a very high concentration of lamp posts, signs and bins in a small area. Added to the pedestrian footfall and the number of drinking establishments, it's a hot spot for accidents."
The research showed more than six million mobile owners had been injured in collisions while walking and using the phone. The number of accidents was said to be linked to our obsession with texting - Britain's 48 million mobile users together send 4.7 million texts an hour.
Campaign groups blamed growing levels of street "clutter", such as lamp posts, bins and recycling points. Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Living Streets, said: "Britain's streets are becoming increasingly like obstacle courses. We were surprised by the scale of accidents but know from our members that cluttered streets continue to cause daily danger."
Reader views (13)
Can I get some padding as they walk into me too. I suggest we send an electrical charge through the lampposts or wrap them in barbed wire.
- Dave, saffron walden
This is a ludicrous idea that smacks of the Health & Safety police. Plus, won't these protective covers get a little smelly after a while from the local dog population doing what only dogs do?
- Paula Garsden, Enfield, Middx
I favour the "mobile motorway" idea if we can end the brightly coloured line at the nearest cliff edge.
- Michael, Park Royal, London
If they want to text while they're walking along let them walk into a lamp post! It might just teach them a lesson
- Helen, london
Great plan. Decreases the available pavement space so we will bump into each other instead. We will then start wearing protective 'mattresses ourselves, create 'pavement congestion', and Ken Livingstone can levy ...... No, I'm thinking too far ahead.
- Allan, Ashtead, UK
That padding doesn't look quite high enough, she is about to sustain a concussion injury to the forehead!
- Joe, Hungerford
You're kidding me right? Seems I left the country just in time!
- James Sargeant, Melbourne Australia
This country has gone barking mad. Why cant texters look where they're going. Bloody nanny state. Who paid for that rubbish?
- Kathy Williams, Poole Dorset
So the solution to a cluttered pavement is to add more clutter? If people bump into lamp-posts it'll probably teach them to look where they're going in the future!
- Liz, London, England
Why are we protecting these people from themselves. Haven't this council ever heard of Darwinism?
- Roger, Guildford
What a great idea! I ended up in casualty for an hour last time I was in Brick Lane!
- Mr Bump, London
What a great idea! I have lost count of the number of times I have walked into something whilst txtin- especially as the council keeps adding obstacles to the pavement! Good thinking Living Streets and 118118!
- Amy, Brentwood
Genius idea and funded by 118 - Ken take note!
- Jane, London
