Walk with caution

Laws against using a cellphone while driving are now common in many states, including Nevada. Whether they will have the intended effect remains to be seen.

Unfortunately, those who have brought us such restrictions aren’t ready to stop there.

The Associated Press reports that “government officials and safety experts” now seek to combat another growing problem involving cellphone use: “distracted walking.”

You can’t make this stuff up.

Lawmakers in Arkansas, Illinois and New York have actually introduced legislation to stop pedestrians from talking on cellphones or texting – or even playing video games or listening to music via headphones.

Utah lawmakers considered imposing statewide a Salt Lake City ban on pedestrian use of cellphones, headphones or other distracting electronic devices while crossing the tracks of the town’s light rail system.

So far, all these legislative attempts have failed.

Officials in Delaware and Philadelphia have opted for a different approach, deciding instead to spend taxpayer money on public education campaigns warning of the dangers of playing with your smartphone while legging your way through town.

Pedestrian deaths are up across the country – and in Las Vegas. Through mid July, 23 pedestrians had been killed in Clark County this year, as opposed to 10 deaths through the same period in 2011. But there is no data to suggest that electronic devices have caused the increase.

Besides, the question arises: Is there any limit to how far the government can go to protect people from themselves?

Ideas like this tend to spread. But let’s hope Nevada lawmakers have more pressing issues with which to grapple than worrying about regulating pedestrians who enjoy playing Angry Birds during their morning jaunt.