'Text walking lanes': Antwerp sets up temporary scheme Published duration 15 June 2015

image copyright @joythielemans image caption The objective of the scheme is said to be preventing pedestrian pavement collisions

People sending text messages in the centre of the Belgian city of Antwerp have been provided with dedicated temporary "text walking lanes" so that they do not collide with pedestrians.

The initiative - some would say publicity stunt - is the brainchild of a smartphone store based in the city.

It says that a significant number of mobile phone breakages happen because of "text walking" collisions.

There are now believed to be more mobile phones in the world than people.

image copyright Pixacube.com image caption The "text walking lanes" may become permanent fixtures

"You probably walk through the streets while texting or sending Whatsapp messages to your friends and don't really pay attention to your surroundings - only to whatever is happening on your screen," a spokesman for Mlab, a smart phone laboratory based in Antwerp, was quoted by Yahoo News as saying.