Crossing the street here can be challenging any time, and you might be even less likely to notice that honking cab or zooming bicyclist if you’re looking at your phone. Now, it could become illegal to do so. A bill in the New York State Senate will ban pedestrians from using portable electronic devices while crossing the road. Fines would range from $25 to $250. The statewide ban would include texting, checking emails, and browsing the internet, with exceptions for emergencies.
… A 2019 report estimated that 6,227 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2018, the most in almost three decades. The report cited “the large growth in smartphone use” as a possible reason. It's already a punishable offence in Hawaii.