Listening to loud music and use of mobile phone while walking on the road is becoming a serious concern - Police

The practice of wearing headphones and listening to music and the use of mobile devices while walking on the road is becoming a serious concern.

This is being seen everywhere as people walking on the road or even crossing the road are on their mobile devices with earphones on and have no idea about vehicles approaching them.

Fijivillage has also noticed that the general attitude of a number of pedestrians has now become that they can walk across the road anywhere and the drivers should stop for them, even if they are jaywalking and are putting themselves in a dangerous situation.

Police Spokesperson Ana Naisoro says the trend is being picked up by traffic officers while out on patrol and they are having to counsel members of the public about the dangers of walking around with headphones listening to music.

She says earlier this week a 25-year-old man was hit by a bus at the Rewa Dairy Bridge in Nabua when he suddenly ran across the road and findings of the investigations revealed the victim did not hear the bus as he was listening to music which had affected his concentration.