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Tue, March 28, 2023 | 12:13
Are no-smartphone-while-walking signs effective?
위험천만 길거리 스마트폰…"늦게 건너고 주변 확인 안해"
Posted : 2016-06-19 16:23
Updated : 2016-06-20 14:21
Kim Bo-eun
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A sign warning people not to use smartphones while crossing the road waits to be installed in front of City Hall in downtown Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap
A sign warning people not to use smartphones while crossing the road waits to be installed in front of City Hall in downtown Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun


Korea, one of the world's top countries in smartphone penetration rate, has started to take steps to warn pedestrians about the risks of being occupied with their gadgets on the street, as the number of smartphone-related traffic accidents is growing.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government began last week to put up signs along the street and on the pavement at five locations to warn citizens of the dangers of using their smartphones while walking. The locations are near City Hall, Hongik and Yonsei universities, and Gangnam and Jamsil subway stations.

However, few passers-by seem to have noticed the signs so far, raising questions about the effectiveness of the measure.

Middle school student Park Gui-nam was peering into his phone while waiting for the bus in front of City Hall in downtown Seoul, Sunday.

"I guess there needs to be a lot of more of the signs for people to start seeing them," said the 14-year-old, who says he messages friends or is on Facebook while on the street.

A 35-year-old office worker, surnamed Jun, said, "I have noticed the signs on the pavement, but honestly, most people who are peering at their phones on the street aren't going to be able to see them."

Kim, another office worker in his 30s, who was looking at his phone while walking, said that he uses his phone only when there's something urgent, like when he has to read and reply to messages.

"But I don't think signs are going to stop people from using their phones," Kim said. "I think campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers are necessary."

Tauvia Siemens, an English instructor from Canada, also said she didn't notice the signs but acknowledged their need.

"I never use my phone at crosswalks, but I once had someone nearly walk into me because he was so immersed in his phone," Siemens said. "I was like ― look where you're going! I think it's dangerous for not only the person using his or her phone, but also other people around them."

According to data compiled by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, the number of traffic accidents arising from the use of smartphones has more than doubled from 437 cases in 2009 to 1,111 cases in 2014.

The authority's study showed pedestrians noticed sounds from cars or other factors from 14.4 meters away from them on average, but the distanced halved when they were messaging or using apps on their smartphones.

Many other cities around the world have similar warning signs as Seoul's. The U.K. and Sweden have warning signs, Belgium has a separate lane for smartphone users and Germany recently installed lights in front of a train track in order to stop pedestrians who are occupied with their phones crossing it.

The city government will set up 300 signs during a six month trial period through the end of this year. Then it will discuss with the National Police Agency whether to officially include such signs as a transportation safety necessity.


위험천만 길거리 스마트폰…"늦게 건너고 주변 확인 안해"

직장인 이모(30·여)씨는 얼마 전 스마트폰으로 인터넷 기사를 검색하며 길을 걷다 아찔한 경험을 했다. 파란불이 들어온 것을 보고 횡단보도를 건너가려 했지만, 스마트폰에 정신이 팔린 사이 빨간불로 바뀌어 있던 것이다.

이씨는 코앞으로 차가 '쌩'하고 지나가는 모습을 보고 나서야 놀란 가슴을 쓸어내리며 스마트폰을 주머니에 넣었다.

이씨처럼 길을 걸으며 음악을 듣거나 인터넷을 검색하면 실제로 길을 건너는 속도가 늦어지고, 주변을 덜 살피게 된다. 스마트폰 이용자가 폭발적으로 늘어난 만큼, 안전에도 더 많은 관심이 필요하다는 지적이 나온다.

18일 도로교통공단이 지난해 낸 '보행 중 음향기기 사용이 교통안전에 미치는 영향 연구'에 따르면 8개 지점에서 영상을 찍어 판독한 결과, 1천865명 가운데 213명(무단횡단 제외)이 음악을 듣거나 전화통화를 하는 '주위 분산 보행자'로 나타났다.

이들 '주위 분산 보행자'는 횡단보도를 건너는 평균 속도가 초속 1.31m로 나타났다. '딴짓'을 하지 않은 '비주의분산 보행자'의 평균 속도는 초속 1.38m였다. 스마트폰을 보면서 걷는 사람은 그렇지 않은 사람보다 천천히 걷는다는 사실이 확인된 것이다.

주의가 분산되는 유형별로 살펴보면 전화통화를 의미하는 '청각+언어'가 초속 1.23m로 가장 느렸다. 문자메시지를 보내는 '시각+조작'은 초속 1.25m, 음악을 들으며 문자메시지를 보내는 '시청각+조작'은 초속 1.32m였다.

음악을 듣거나 전화통화를 하는 사람은 길을 건널 때 주변을 덜 살피는 것으로도 조사됐다. '비주의분산 보행자'는 57.7%가 횡단보도를 건널 때 왼쪽을 살폈지만, '주의 분산 보행자'는 37.1%에 그쳤다.

연구보고서는 ''주의 분산 보행'의 경우 속도가 느린 데다 신호 변경에 따른 반응 시간도 늦어졌고, 횡단 시 필요한 안전 행동을 하는 비율도 현저히 떨어졌다'며 '돌발 상황에 반응하는 시간이 늦어질 수 있어 대처하지 못할 가능성도 커진다는 뜻'이라고 설명했다.

이런 위험성에도 우리 국민 대부분은 길을 걸으면서 스마트폰 등 음향기기를 사용한 경험이 있는 것으로 나타났다.

도로교통공단이 국민 1천 명을 대상으로 설문한 결과, '보행 중 음향기기 청취 빈도'를 묻는 말에 76.5%가 정도의 차이는 있지만, 음향기기를 사용한다고 대답했다.

특히 '보행 중 음향기기 사용으로 인해 사고가 날 뻔한 경험'을 묻는 말에 27.9%가 '있다'라고 답했다. 걸으면서 스마트폰을 사용하면 사고 위험이 상당히 크다고 추정할 수 있는 대목이다.

실제로 현대해상 교통기후환경연구소가 2009∼2012년 일어난 자사 자동차 대인 사고를 분석한 결과, 스마트폰 관련 교통사고는 2009년 437건에서 2012년 848건으로 2배 가까이 증가했다.

보행 중 스마트폰 사용의 위험성에 대한 우려가 커지자 일부 지방자치단체에서는 아예 '걸을 때 스마트폰 사용주의'를 알리는 안내 표지까지 만들었다.

서울시는 시청·연세대·홍익대·강남역·잠실역 등 젊은 층이 많이 오가는 지역 5곳에 '보행 중 스마트폰 주의' 교통안전표지와 '걸을 때는 안전하게' 보도부착물을 시범 설치한다.

이미 스웨덴과 영국은 이 같은 안내 표지를 설치했고, 벨기에는 아예 스마트폰 이용자를 위한 전용 도로까지 만들 정도로 세계 각국은 문제 해결을 위해 노력하고 있다.

서울시 관계자는 '사고 감소 효과까지 이어지는 성과가 확인되면 시범 시설물을 정식 교통안전시설물로 지정하는 방안도 검토할 것'이라고 말했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailbkim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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