Hawaii law targets 'smartphone zombies' with crosswalk ban

A ban on pedestrians looking at mobile phones or texting while crossing the street will take effect in Hawaii's largest city with fines of $15 to $99

A ban on pedestrians looking at mobile phones or texting while crossing the street will take effect in Hawaii's largest city in late October, as Honolulu becomes the first major US city to pass legislation aimed at reducing injuries and deaths from "distracted walking".

The ban comes as cities around the world grapple with how to protect phone-obsessed "smartphone zombies" from injuring themselves by stepping into traffic or running into stationary objects.