News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Pedestrians who cross the street while listening to a MP3, Walkman and Diskman gadgets are liable to a 100 shekel ($29) fine, police have warned. Listening to the MP3 distracts pedestrians from being alert to oncoming vehicles, the police explained. Current laws prohibit pedestrians from crossing the street and motorists from driving with two earphones, and drivers are subject to fines of 250 shekels ($88).

'"I have no doubt that a person walking with earphones and listening to music cannot hear oncoming vehicles," a traffic police officer told the Hebrew daily Maariv. Pedestrians' concentration level and alertness level are even lower when they are listening to the devices, he added.