mid-day editorial: Don't play with people's lives

Mumbai is now officially one of those cities all over the world that have taken the obsession over Pokemon Go too far.

A Bandra resident paid a heavy price for playing the popular mobile game while driving - while he was distracted by the app on the road, an auto rickshaw rammed into his Mercedes and caused damages amounting to Rs 20,000. Ironically, it was Jabbir Ali's first time playing the game, but the 26-year-old car dealer has learnt his lesson and will never play with road safety again.

In this case, Ali was playing the game at a traffic signal and he got away with a dent in his car and in his wallet. However, all over the world, the Pokemon Go craze has led to a series of traffic violations and accidents. Just days ago, a user in Baltimore, US, crashed his vehicle into a police car while he was playing the game. In another case, two users were so distracted by the game, that they didn't realise they were at the very edge of a cliff until they fell off.

Fortunately, they were unhurt. Japan reported a spate of accidents within days of the app's release, with gamers too absorbed in the app to notice vehicles right in front of them.

On the road, such distractions can be disastrous and, in extreme cases, even fatal. Talking on the phone, while driving or even walking and crossing roads, is an absolute no-no. Playing games on the phone are an even bigger distraction. In fact, it is best to just keep that cell phone out of sight when driving, unless it is an absolute emergency.

Our hi-tech lifestyle is a double-edged sword. While it makes life easier on some fronts, especially when it comes to communication, there are pitfalls as well. It is best to use technology judiciously and let common sense rule. Enjoy Pokemon Go if you want and keep up with global trends. But be careful to always do so in a safe environment, with a healthy dash of respect for safety.

This was Mumbai's first Pokemon Go-related accident. Let it be the last. Don't Pokemon Go and drive.