UK Government to introduce £100 fine for 'distracted walking' to target phone-obsessed pedestrians

Emergency legislation is being considered by UK lawmakers to crack down on "distracted walking" — the act of using a smartphone while walking in public spaces. If passed, offenders could face a £100 fine for failing to pay attention to their surroundings.

The proposed law comes in response to a sharp rise in pedestrian-related accidents, with government reports citing “a growing epidemic of people walking into lamp posts, bollards, and other pedestrians.”

The Transport Secretary defended the proposal, stating: “We have laws against using your phone while driving. Why should walking be any different? The streets are chaotic. People are bumping into prams, falling off curbs, and clogging up busy pavements. This is a matter of public safety.”

If introduced, the new ‘Pedestrian Traffic Act’ would empower council enforcement officers to issue fines on the spot to anyone caught staring at their phone while walking in public areas.

Officials say the scheme will be trialled in a number of cities, including Colchester, with designated ‘phone-friendly zones’ marked out in city centres where scrolling would still be permitted.

A leaked Home Office document suggests repeat offenders could be referred to a ‘Pedestrian Awareness Course’ where they would be forced to practice mindful walking techniques.

In addition to the walking crackdown, ministers are also considering a ban on taking phone calls on loudspeaker in public places. Reports suggest those caught “shouting their personal business into the void” could face similar fines, with trains, buses, and cafés being the first to implement the rule.

A government source claimed: “We’ve all been trapped on a train listening to someone’s full breakup, medical diagnosis, or dodgy business deal at full volume. Enough is enough.”

News of the proposed crackdown has sparked a fierce backlash. Critics argue the government is overstepping its authority, with some calling it a ‘nanny state’ measure designed to generate easy revenue.

Commuter Rob, 29, told reporters: “I rely on my phone for directions—now I have to stop every time I check Google Maps? What’s next, a fine for blinking too much?”

Social media has also erupted with memes mocking the law, with one viral post featuring an edited road sign reading: "No walking and scrolling. £100 fine. Repeat offenders will be issued a Nokia 3310."

While some are outraged, road safety campaigners support the move, citing the dangers of inattentive walking.

Professor Kingsley, a behavioural scientist at the University of Essex, claims “phone zombies” are a growing risk: “Studies show distracted walking increases accidents by 43%. People glued to their screens are just as dangerous as reckless cyclists.”

At the time of writing, Downing Street has neither confirmed nor denied whether the government is seriously considering the measure. However, with pedestrian injuries rising and public spaces becoming increasingly chaotic, it may only be a matter of time before Britain’s ‘phone zombies’ are forced to wake up.