University installs 'texting lanes'

Utah Valley University is attempting to reduce the injuries and deaths related to pedestrian smartphone use by installing 'texting lanes' for distracted walkers.

Public organizations around the world look for ways to raise awareness about dangers of using a mobile device while walking and how to control this trend which include restrictions and fines. Meanwhile this university have come up with an entirely different approach to eliminate hallway gridlock by giving texters a lane of their own.

UVU's creative director Matt Bambrough hopes it gets students laughing, talking, and thinking about the issue.

"You have 18-24-year-olds walking down the hall with smartphones, you're almost bound to run into someone somewhere; it's something we're dealing with in this day and age," he said in a press release, explaining that the school's intention was "to engage our students, to catch their attention and to let them know we are aware of who they are and where they're coming from."

The university has 30,000 students.