Safe and sound? … pedestrian David Rogers, 22, with his iPod in Martin Place.
He thought a ban on using gadgets while crossing roads was "probably a good idea".
Photo: Nick Moir

A state senator from New York has proposed a law banning people from crossing the street while using such gadgets as iPods and mobile phones.

But NSW police warned against legislating for "stupidity".

In New York, Senator Carl Kruger said pedestrians could not be fully aware of their surroundings if they were "fiddling with a BlackBerry, dialling a phone number, playing Super Mario Bros. on a Game Boy, or listening to music on an iPod". Those who flouted the ban should be fined $US100 ($130).

The Pedestrian Council's chairman, Harold Scruby, doubted such a law would be enforceable in Australia, but said gadget makers had a responsibility to warn of the dangers of using their products while crossing roads.

But the State Traffic Commander, Chief Superintendent John Hartley, said: "You can't legislate stupidity - if people are stupid enough to do something that's so distracting they can't see cars coming, that's a problem they need to deal with."