The ban is thought to be the first of its kind among major U.S. cities.

“Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass — that perhaps common sense would prevail,” Mayor Kirk Caldwell said. “But sometimes we lack common sense.”

Pedestrian deaths in the U.S. climbed to 5,987 in 2016 — the highest since 1990 — and a report cites smartphone-related distraction as a potential factor.

Several cities have attempted to tackle pedestrians’ urge to tweet, text and swipe.

An announcement on Hong Kong’s escalators advises: “Don’t keep your eyes only on your mobile phone.”

And temporary “text walking lanes” have been set up in Washington, Philadelphia and Antwerp, Belgium. But in most cases, pedestrians didn’t notice the markings. They were too consumed by their phones.

Sara Aridi contributed reporting.

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