Padded Lampposts Tested in London to Prevent Cell Phone Texting Injuries

[RadioFreeSeaLab]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335896,00.html
Talk about absolutely zero situational awareness...

Padded Lampposts Tested in London to Prevent Cell Phone Texting Injuries

Friday , March 07, 2008



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People who have been injured while walking and texting on their cell phones may be in luck.

A London street is experimenting with padded lampposts to protect those not paying attention from banging into them, ITN reports.

A study conducted by 118 118, a phone directory service, found that one in 10 people has been hurt while focusing on their cell phone instead of where they were walking, ITN reports.

The test lampposts will be given a trial run in Londons East End on Brick Lane. If the trial is successful it will be rolled out in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

The survey found that almost two thirds of respondents lost peripheral vision while texting, and more than a quarter wanted lines on the pavement to create routes for texters to walk while using their phones.

The study claims that 68,000 people were injured in the U.K. last year while chatting or texting on their cell phone, Infomatics reports.

118 118 will provide the padding, and in return will be allowed to advertise on them.

Click here to read more on this story from ITN.

[Azrael256]

Ok, that's it.  That's the last straw.  All Brits are retards.  I will henceforth speak slowly and loudly to any one I happen to meet.

[keeleon]

The survey found that almost two thirds of respondents lost peripheral vision while texting, and more than a quarter wanted lines on the pavement to create routes for texters to walk while using their phones

Those people should be shot.  No questions.  If they have to pad the poles so the poor widdle sheeple don't injure themselves because they're not looking where they're going, then how the hell are those same sheeple going to stay in the texting lane??

This isn't serious is it?  This seems like an article from The Onion.

[RadioFreeSeaLab]

I say wrap the posts in razor blades.  Or some sort of powdery skin irritant.  Or both.

[keeleon]

I say wrap the posts in razor blades.  Or some sort of powdery skin irritant.  Or both.

That will certainly teach them.  When I used to teach people sword fighting, they would say "Shouldn't I wear a helmet?", to which I would reply "I guarantee getting whacked a couple times in the head will make you an excellent upwards blocker".

[Perd Hapley]

I'm still trying to figure out why anyone uses text messaging aside from, say, sitting in a class or a church service or some-such. 

[agricola]

It is a PUBLICITY STUNT.  Please read the article before going off on one.

[Iain]

It is a PUBLICITY STUNT.  Please read the article before going off on one.

Why would anyone do that?

This appears to have spread fairly well through certain American forums. They don't seem to be capable of finding this link, so I'm going to make assumptions about the intellect of Americans.

[RadioFreeSeaLab]

In that case, it's hilarious.

[Perd Hapley]

It is a PUBLICITY STUNT.  Please read the article before going off on one. 

Where did the article relate that bit of info?  Looks like FOX got suckered as much as anyone. 

[Cromlech]

Being able to text using only tactile response FTW (the main reason I haven't 'upgraded' to one of those crappy new mobiles with tiny keypads).

[Sergeant Bob]

It is a PUBLICITY STUNT.  Please read the article before going off on one.

This appears to have spread fairly well through certain American forums. They don't seem to be capable of finding this link, so I'm going to make assumptions about the intellect of Americans.

Heh, go ahead! We'll know which ones you're talking about.

I'm glad to hear you've not progressed any farther in the inexorable slide into "Nerf World".

[HankB]

Looks like an Onionesque sort of story . . . but the fact that people can regard this as being under serious consideration speaks volumes about how people perceive Britain.

And the Brits have only themselves to blame . . .

[Iain]

Looks like an Onionesque sort of story . . . but the fact that people can regard this as being under serious consideration speaks volumes about how people perceive Britain.

And that would be why this article has been widely distributed without fact checking.

Of course, that only puts it along the lines of the 'Idiot Americans can't find America on a map of America' stories that we see every now and again.

People regard these sorts of stories has being serious because they want to, because of their prejudices. Doesn't mean there is necessarily any truth in it. This wasn't the Onion, it was a publicity event. Worked rather well too.

[Perd Hapley]

Honestly, Iain, I would have taken the story at face value, if it was from Manhattan, St. Augustine, or anyplace else.  Like most regulars on APS, I'm an elitist misanthrope. 

[K Frame]

It is a PUBLICITY STUNT.  Please read the article before going off on one. 

Where did the article relate that bit of info?  Looks like FOX got suckered as much as anyone. 

It's not a publicity stunt, per se. It's a chance for this 118 118 company to do some niche advertising. The padding will have advertising on it.

It still doesn't take away from the fact that there ARE people who are so frigging stupid that they get to talking on their cell phones, texting, or just conversing with someone that they walk into something.

Some years ago I watched an idiot talking on his cell phone in DC walk right into an intersection and get plowed by a bicyclist.

Pretty damned funny, actually.

[coppertales]

There certainly is no longer any "empire" in British any more..........chris3

[HankB]

. . . Of course, that only puts it along the lines of the 'Idiot Americans can't find America on a map of America' stories that we see every now and again. .. .

Iain, we get a lot of stories that are on that thin border between silly and insane . . . unfortunately, the ones that originate in places like San Francisco or Chicago all too often turn out to be true. 

[Mabs2]

I'm still trying to figure out why anyone uses text messaging aside from, say, sitting in a class or a church service or some-such. 

It's pretty useful for quick questions.
My dad and I use them pretty frequently.
"Sup."
"poopin."
"Give me money."
etc.

[JDTHEWOLF]

Exploding lamp posts...darwinism applies to thining out the de-de-dees.

[coppertales]

You would think a story like this would come out of Sweden or Norway where all the blondes are................chris3