Hong Kong Builds Traffic Lights Into Ground For Those Glued To Their Phones

It’s no secret that society has become a slave to its phones, so much so that authorities have to work around usual traffic rules to make it easier for people to stay safe.

Down in Hong Kong, the Transport Department has installed street lights that illuminate pathways so that people who can’t take their eyes away from their smartphones won’t accidentally walk into oncoming traffic.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Hong Kong has seen an increase in motor-related deaths over the last year. Within the first half of 2022, seven pedestrians have died at intersections. Out of those, four did not obey proper traffic procedures.

As a result, it would appear that the Red Man sign is in danger of losing his job as LED lights take to the floor.

While the wash of harsh red lights from stop signals may look a tad ominous, a few citizens have gathered other concerns about these additions. In the same Bloomberg report, some expressed being wary that pedestrians were too attached to their phones, and that eventually, just as they had with the traditional signs, they would learn to ignore these new ones as well.

Hong Kong isn’t the only place to trial such measures. Over in Seoul, a similar initiative to tackle inattentive pedestrians has taken place where red and green signals are projected onto the edge of the road. In Scotland, warning signs with silhouettes of people walking and staring at their phones help alert citizens that they may be on their devices too much while walking around.

Safe to say, all these new measures are a literal sign of the times as people become increasingly absorbed by gadgets.

[via Bloomberg and Futurism, cover image via Transport Department, Hong Kong]