German city uses traffic lights in pavements to stop texters getting run over

Warning: The lights flash red to show people when to stop
Augsburger Allgemeine/YouTube
Mark Chandler26 April 2016

German planners have come up with an ingenious way to stop people walking into busy roads while looking at their smartphones and texting.

The city of Augsburg has introduced a traffic light-style system on the floor, so people can see they need to stop without looking up from their screen.

Red flashing LED lights, embedded in pavements at a pedestrian crossing last week, are used to signal when a tram is approaching and people need to wait.

According to German media, the lights have been installed in an area particularly popular with young people and commuters.

The pilot scheme has been introduced after a tragedy in Munich last month when a 15-year-old girl was killed by a tram while wearing earphones and looking at her phone.

A city spokesman Stephanie Lermen told website N-TV: "It creates a whole new level of attention."

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