Forget about tech neck—smartphones in Hong Kong are causing such severe distractions for pedestrians that officials are now piloting a new type of street light to prevent them from walking into traffic. According to Bloomberg, these new lights are being tested at four locations for a duration of six months.
Emitting an eerie red glow onto the crosswalk and sidewalk below, their aim is to alert individuals who are engrossed in their phones to pause before stepping into the street. “With the increasing popularity of smartphones, some of these pedestrians are distracted,” stated Alex Au, the chief engineer for traffic control at the Hong Kong Transport Department, highlighting the pressing need for innovative solutions to address pedestrian safety concerns amidst the pervasive use of mobile devices.
