In a groundbreaking move, Yamato City—a suburb of Yokohama in the greater Tokyo area—has become the first municipality worldwide to prohibit smartphone use while walking. This ordinance targets distracted pedestrians to prevent accidents in public spaces.
As detailed in a June 1, 2020, report from a leading Japanese media outlet, Yamato's city council passed an ordinance banning smartphone use while walking. The rule applies to streets, stations, and parks, aiming to safeguard citizens distracted by their screens.
A January 2020 survey outside Yamato Station found that 12% of about 6,000 passersby were texting while walking. Currently, no fines are in place; police will issue verbal warnings. However, the ordinance allows for criminal sanctions if compliance falters. Yamato's mayor emphasizes raising public awareness to encourage stationary phone use and reduce risks.
Yamato isn't alone in addressing tech distractions. In 2016, Augsburg, Germany, installed ground-level red lights for texting pedestrians. Headphone use poses similar hazards; in January 2020, a U.S. researcher prototyped an AI-powered audio alert system to warn users of dangers.
