There’s a new craze that could make driving on everyday public roads potentially a lot more dangerous, and its name is Pokémon GO.
For anyone unfamiliar with it, Pokémon GO is a new mobile game which allows players to “catch” their favourite Pokémon in real life by using the cameras on their mobile devices.
Players have to physically roam around in the real world in other to move their avatar in the game, and different Pokémon live in different areas, for example water-type Pokémon are typically found near rivers, lakes and oceans.
I almost got hit by a car trying to catch a pikachu thanks Pokemon go ????
— bella (@BellaAshlynn) July 10, 2016
Official warnings
However, just days after the game’s official release in the US, Asia and Australia there have already been reports of players causing havoc on roads, either by dangerously walking out in front of cars or attempting to hunt down Pokémon from behind the wheel.
It might sound funny, but it’s serious enough that it’s warranted official warnings from the likes of the Washington State Department of Transportation in the US, which sent out a tweet warning gamers not to attempt to play the game while driving.
Earlier last week, the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services in Australia also published a post urging players to look up from their screens to avoid walking into lamp posts or into the middle of busy streets and roads.
If your weekend includes looking for #Eevee on #PokemonGO, please do so safely. No Pokemoning from behind the wheel. pic.twitter.com/Kt9CmTOKiP
— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) July 8, 2016
Reports of havoc on roads
Part of the trouble is that the game sends notifications to players’ phones when the creatures are nearby, which can prove distracting to gamers keen to collect the rare creatures wherever they can.
It’s unclear whether or not the game still sends notifications if it detects that the phone or device is connected to a car’s Bluetooth or not, but it can still reportedly prove a problem if there are passengers in the vehicle.
The creatures in the game world are only available for a limited time and confined to a small area, meaning that cars have reportedly been stopping, turning or accelerating abruptly as the drivers and passengers suddenly encounter a Pokémon.
I was sitting in my parked car when a van hit it. He was playing #PokemonGo and didnt see me. I too was playing. This game will kill us all.
— Wren (@wrenthereaper) July 8, 2016
#DontPokemonGoAndDrive
Over the course of the past few days, hundreds of tweets have been sent regarding people hunting Pokémon in their cars, with the hashtag #DontPokemonGoAndDrive trending in the past week.
Plenty of hoax stories have also surfaced, claiming that the game has caused a huge spike in traffic accidents and pedestrian injuries. Thankfully the reports so far have been bogus, but it still raises concerns about the safety of using the game on or near public roads.
Pokémon GO isn’t officially available yet here in the UK, but many players have been downloading and playing it anyway, so drivers are warned to keep an eye out and their phones away.
