New York Introduces Legislation to Ban I-Pods on City Streets
In New York, law-makers are contemplating putting a law into affect that will make it illegal for people to cross streets while listening to their I-Pods. Why, you ask. Well the reasoning behind the proposed bill is to save lives. It is believed by some that when people listen to their I-Pods, they really "get into" their music do not pay attention to their surroundings. There are many documented reports of people being severely injured and even killed because they were not paying attention while crossing the road due to the presence of their I-Pods.
The proposed way to enforce this possible law is by implementing a $100 fine for a person who gets caught crossing the street while listening to an I-Pod. For many, the opportunity cost of a possible $100 fine is great enough to deter them from listening to their I-Pods while crossing the streets. For others, however, the opportunity cost is not great enough to overcome the benefit they feel they receive from listening to their I-Pods. I think this poses an interesting question: How much is your safety worth to you?
Labels:
i-pods,
legislation
9 comments:
I understand where New York wants to ban I-pods and I see how it has become a hazard to walkers. However I feel that it shouldn't just be I-pods that are being ban, what about all other music devices. I was talking with a friend about this and I agree with her I can see where Apple could get mad that New York is just singling out I-pods. Alot of people in the city walk and listen to music it would become a hastle if ever block you had to turn off your I-pod or mp3 player just to cross the street, it would almost be less bothersome not to listen to one at all, which I am sure these companies manufacturing these products wouldn't appreciate very much.
I agree with Brittany because NYC can not just single out i-Pods. If they are going to enforce this law, then the city will have to ban any mp3 players and any cell phones with mp3 capabilities. Anyways, I am sure that if they looked into it enough, people probably get more distracted by talking on their cell phones or managing their PDAs and crossing the street than listening to their i-Pods.
It sounds rediculous to say people can't listen to their music while crossing the street in NYC. While people may not want to pay the $100 fine, there are ways around it. Cell phones now have music and who is going to be the one in charge of enforcing this law. The cost for the city to hire some extra cops just to check to see if people are listening to music doesnt seem like it would be worth the lives they "may" save. Plus, i would like to see the statistics on how many deaths actually occur by listening to music.
I too agree that there is no way that NYC could single out I-pods, or the apple technology all together. Once you say I-pod many will begin to add all other like devices. Then it will move to cell phones. There is no way to single out just the I-pod. I do see where they may be a distraction to walkers but I also have to say from personal experience in NYC that many walkers are distracted by much more then I-pods while walking. If the city tries to enforce the law they will more then likely lose money due to all the people that fight their fine due to the not so clear law. It will be merely impossible to just enforce I-pods and I am sure that apple will never let it happen do to the harm that it will do to their business.
I agree with the others. Apple would sue before they permitted a law banning only a product of theirs to be prohibited from the streets of New York. Additionally, I wonder why the use of music inside a car has never been considered a distraction. Some states have laws against cell phone use in a car, but none prohibit music. Isn’t distraction inside a 3-5 ton automobile just as important to avoid as one on foot? If NY had gone after cell phone use in a cross walk, that might have been the next logical step… but music devices? What about day dreaming? That could be dangerous. Accidents will happen no matter how many activities are banned from cross walks. I think the real question, if this law is really to be pursued, will not be of the value of safety, but the value of freedom.
If there is going to be a law against distractions while crossing the street should it really be limited to I-Pods or music devices only? There are an unlimited number of things that can distract somone while they are crossing the street. Some might say that the advertisements in times square would be enough to pull somones attention away from what they are doing while they cross the street. Its really up to the individual to pay attention to what they are doing. The increase in the number of people getting hit while wearing I-pods isnt nesessarily because they are more distracted by their music. More and more people are buying ipods, so the chances of somone who has an I-pod getting are greater simply because more people have I-pods.
I think that the law sounds like a good idea but in reality I really don't think people are going to care whether or not there is a law imposed. People will feel they have the right to listen to music wherever they are because it seems like its infringing their rights. If this law is passed it will most likely not be taken seriously and people will continue to listen to music throughout the streets of New York.
Being from New York I understand their reasoning for trying to ban the I-Pod. A few years ago NY implemented a cell phone ban. You aren’t allowed to have the phone anywhere near your face. The passing of this law has done what it was intended to do, reduce accidents involving distraction while driving. In other words there is a strong benefit because of the law, so why not try to continue the law to the I-Pod. I agree with the law, the benefit of people not getting hurt because they were listing to music sounds pretty smart to me.
I can see why they want to band it in New York City because obviously this is one of the busiest citys in the world and due to heavy traffic on the street and sidewalk, being distracted by other things could lead to injury or an unpleasant situation. But to take away the right to listen to music when your walking down the street is absurd. If your going to get hit by a car, and have it blamed on your ipod, that is ridiculous. Thats sounds to me that if you get into a accident in your car because you had your radio up to loud then radios should be banned from all vehicles. Also, what about these bluetooths, whats the difference between using those or hands free phones and talking to some one while driving. I dont see much of a difference there. This law should not be passed and i dont believe it will.
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