Cities globally address “smombies” (phone users while walking) through awareness campaigns and fines to improve pedestrian safety.
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The phenomenon of “smartphone zombies” or smombies, where people are so engrossed in their phones while walking that they perceive their surroundings very little (up to 90% according to German research), is becoming a public safety issue across Europe. Cities like Antwerp and Augsburg have implemented pilot programs, including special crosswalk signals, while Spain has started fining pedestrians who endanger themselves or others by looking at their phones, with fines up to 200 euros. Italy is also addressing the issue through awareness campaigns, particularly targeting younger demographics, alongside potential penalties. In the Czech Republic, pedestrians are involved in about one thousand traffic accidents annually involving motor vehicles, and while drivers are aware of this, pedestrians are more frequently injured or killed. Police do not track how often phone use contributes to these pedestrian-involved accidents, but situations where a pedestrian suddenly enters a roadway is common, which is what Spain and Italy are trying to reduce through measures like fines.
