To think people who walk along buried in their phone...

[OnlyTheTitOfTheIceberg]

...should have all their tech confiscated and made to go and live in a remote Himalayan retreat with no wi-fi?

They're a menace! To themselves and to anyone in their path. This morning, not for the first time, I had to grab the back of someone's coat to stop them from walking out in front of an oncoming car because they were too immersed in their phone screen to notice.

Pull into the side FFS, or at least LOOK UP occasionally.

Snaga that's some good parenting right there.

If you look up, get out of people's way and don't often get squashed by oncoming traffic then it's not you I'm complaining about!

On Sunday, my DH snapped the representatives of the political parties, including our now-non-sitting MP, at the Remembrance Service parade.
All were buried in their phones, no doubt anxiously checking the latest news/polls/interviews/updates

I always walked down the street reading a book before phones became ubiquitous and managed to navigate perfectly well. You develop an awareness of your environment.

Now though, I do browse Mumsnet on my phone while walking the dog because otherwise that's an hour and a half a day just walking the same / similar route and staring into space. (Don't judge me, it's limited because of the rain and mud). I have never stepped out in the street, bumped into anyone or got in 'the way'.

Perhaps you've just encountered people with poor spatial awareness?

Try living in Hong Kong. Everyone glued to their phone All. The. Time. Causing jams at the bottom of escalators on the MTR. On rides at Disneyland, which they just queued 20 minutes to get on to. In business lunches with clients. It’s properly weird. (Although admittedly not HK’s number 1 problem right now 😳).

I thought walking a dog was about appreciating the great outdoors

I refuse to yield and give them a dirty look if they bump into me. They always look surprised Surprised for me being there at all? or for not getting out of their way? I don't care either way.

I can't tell you how many times these idiots nearly collide with my mobility scooter while I shout at them as they get nearer. Even bigger idiots are school kids doing this but walking backwards while talking to their friends.

I'm invariably stationary by the time they are a couple of feet away and finally hear me. One idiot tried to squeeze past my scooter and the hedge but there was only a six inch gap - he gave me a filthy look as he walked round the other side.

It hurts getting hit by a vehicle - it will be only a matter of time that these idiots find out ...

And the book reading whilst out?

The ones who do it at rush hour, when people are trying to get from a to b as quickly as possible, are the worst. It requires some pavement cooperation/coordination. Navigating your way down the pavement by ricocheting off off everyone else is just bloody selfish.

Walking in the middle of the road seems to be thing around here, regularly see little old ladies with their wheelie shopping bags just strolling in the road. Same goes for groups of teens strutting in the road, got the middle finger from one for flashing lights at them being there.

Totally agree OP, drive me mad. I have to go into London tomorrow and will spend much of the day with raised blood pressure having to walk really really slowly behind the twits with their phones.

PUT THEM AWAY! You don't need them when you are walking around. And London has maps everywhere, you don't even need them if you are new to the city.

The only problem with letting a mobile phone zombie walk out in front of a car or worse is the effect that hitting them will have on the innocent driver who may not have enough time to stop before hitting them.

Yes, all drivers should do their best to be aware of any possible hazards, but if someone steps into your path, even the best driver may not be able to stop in time.

OnlyTheTitOfTheIceberg thank you, this might be the thing I get right

I cycle. I've had someone walk out straight in front of me on a clearly designated and kerbed off cycle lane whilst on their phone. Usually, I can spot signs people are about to step out but he turned like a Tron lightcycle.

Fortunately for him, I am a careful cyclist and managed to stop before hitting him. Unfortunately for me, the sudden stop combined with a heavy rucksack toppled me off and I was left rolling round like an overturned turtle.

The twat carried on walking, completely oblivious, until the equally careful cyclist who was behind me and who had just managed to miss me caught him up and pointed out the accident he'd caused. I got a "Sorry." but it was sullen and clearly not heartfelt and I think that's only because the other cyclist was quite cross.

I had to yank someone by the back of the hood and pull them back from walking in the road once because they had headphones on and immersed in their phone. To be fair, the traffic lights were on red but they had failed to see and hear a speeding ambulance that was coming down the road with its sirens on.

Of course, even after I had explained myself, it was still all my fault and I had 'assaulted' them.

YANBU

Drives me mad. What on earth can be so urgent they can’t wait til they get to their destination!

It’s particularly irritating when I’m running, the amount of times I’ve had to go in the road to get round someone who can’t walk in a straight line!

So annoying.

I don't know why people cannot bear a little reality - and actually be aware of their surroundings.

I haven't yet had anyone walk into me because of their phone. However I have had many couples walk into me on narrow paths because they couldn't possibly break their grip on each other so we can all fit on the path. Just the other day a couple walking towards me gawped at me waiting for me to move. It was clear I had nowhere to go other than the road! Anyway they carried on and one of them walked into the pushchair rather than walk behind or in front of their partner for those 2 seconds. No way was I moving for them. I'd treat someone immersed in their phone the same way!

They're all just amateurs! Some of us can do this at a professional level.
I went to the Go-Fest in Dortmund, which is an event for PokémonGo players, dragging along DH who doesn't play. He was fascinated to see several thousand players wandering around a park staring at phones in almost total silence, and no-one bumped into anyone else, anything else, or fell down any of the steps.
So there!

I have to go into London tomorrow and will spend much of the day with raised blood pressure having to walk really really slowly behind the twits with their phones.

The answer is not to walk really really slowly behind them. If you can’t go round them, ask them to let you past. Tap them on the shoulder if necessary. They’ll be astonished but they’ll shift.

I have to go into London tomorrow and will spend much of the day with raised blood pressure having to walk really really slowly behind the twits with their phones. I don't live in London but I imagine the people aren't any different to people anywhere else. If I would like to "overtake" another pedestrian I just say "excuse me may I get past please?" I haven't had a problem yet so may be worth a try.

darkriver19886 why don't you just wear sunglasses then?

Woman texting on phone pushing pram walks straight into the street doesn't even glance I to check for traffic. Oblivious. I have seen her do this on several occasions. I stopped her one day. Just said it was dangerous for her baby herself and the person who would likely run them both over at some point.
She kinda shrugged said...yea...walked off.
Shes still at it

A woman in the supermarket at the weekend, spent the entire time she was shopping, chatting on her phone. She put all her goods on the conveyer belt, still chatting. She totally ignored the checkout person in favour of her conversation. The epitome of rudeness.

I play phone zombie chicken as well. I've got broad, muscly shoulders that I can lock firm from years of power lifting so when they bounce off my shoulder they fucking know about it.

Absolute fucking tossers.