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.