Pedestrians in Italy could be fined more than €75 (£65) for crossing the street while using a mobile phone, under a draft reform of the country's highway code.
The Italian Ministry of Transport has proposed the plan, which would also cover laptops, tablets and digital cameras, according to Italian newspaper Fanpage.it. The fines would apply whether the crossing happens at or outside a crosswalk.
The measure is aimed at reducing serious accidents between drivers and pedestrians, including tourists, who are distracted by their devices. It would not affect pedestrians using earphones or hands-free devices that do not interfere with safety regulations.
Smartphone use while driving is already banned in Italy, with fines up to €1,000 (£856) for a first offence.
Italy is not the first place to target distracted walkers. Honolulu passed a law in 2017 banning texting while walking, with fines ranging from $15 (£11) to $99 (£73). In 2018, cameras were installed at Ludgate Circus in London to study how inattentive pedestrians step into traffic.