Mobile listening devices such as iPods are thought to be a major factor in the rising number of pedestrian deaths in NSW.

According to The Age online, ‘death by iPod’ is becoming increasingly common and whilst the annual road toll deaths in Australia have been dropping, collisions with pedestrians and bike riders have increased by 25% on the NSW roads.

Despite fines already being in place for pedestrians who cause accidents, Harold Scruby of the Pedestrian Council of Australia believes that there needs to be stricter enforcement of laws to ensure that toll doesn’t continue to increase: ‘’The government is quite happy to legislate that people can lose two demerit points for having music up too loud in their cars, but is apparently unconcerned that listening devices now appear to have become lethal pieces of entertainment. They should legislate appropriate penalties for people acting so carelessly towards their own welfare and that of others.”

Earlier this year The Pedestrian Council ran a series of advertisements that focused on the potential danger of wearing listening devises such as iPods whilst crossing roads and riding bikes, however, following two lessening device related deaths on the NSW streets over the weekend there are now calls for a more intensive campaign.