BY KEVIN SAWYER – The latest craze that has swept the planet is, of course, Pokemon Go. The game in which people have to capture mons in real time within their immediate reality is causing so much upheaval that it has even begun to affect the roads and driving. Pedestrians, of course, are being run down left and right of late because they aren’t paying attention to anything other than their cell phone screen. While there hasn’t been a rash of vehicle crashes yet, authorities believe it is only a matter of time.
The tremendous amount of accidents and fatalities around the world, especially in the United States of America, due to people playing the game, has led many to be extremely cautious in general but more especially when they are on the road. There has even been a a surge in the raising of vehicle insurance rates lately.
Many police departments around the country have begun warning people “not to Pokemon Go and drive” but it is unlikely to be all that effective. In addition, many states have already posted the warning on the portable flashing road signs that are all over the place in the country.
In Arkansas, law enforcement, and the government, are asking people to appoint designated drivers that won’t, like drinking, play the game while they are driving leaving the passengers free to do so. There was even reports of people walking off the end of docks into lakes and the ocean and one player was killed when he walked off a cliff while playing.
While it takes an average of 4.6 seconds to glance down at a text or a game, that is enough time for your vehicle to travel nearly a mile. At two seconds, the chances of a crash are almost certain. While there are already plenty of laws all over the place in nearly every state with regard to distracted driving, it seems as if most drivers are going to do those things any way. Defensive driving is always seems the best solution especially in these self absorbed times.
PHOTO CREDIT: Libertyviral.com