Pokémon GO, a popular reality mobile game, has raised road safety concerns in South Africa as it appears that some users play it on their smartphones while driving.
This puts the lives of other road users at risk, according to the Automobile Association, which has joined local and international road safety campaigners in warning motorists not to play the game.
The game requires that players be completely engaged with their screens, and as such it is deemed unsuitable to play while driving or while walking in public.
Pokémon Go is not officially available in South Africa yet, but many have downloaded it.
“Reports are already coming in from other countries where people have been involved in crashes as Pokémon Go players have not been focusing on the road. There are also reports of road rage incidents involving this game,” the AA stated.
“While we're not calling for anyone not to play the game, we want to urge people to play responsibly and be alert to the roads they are travelling on, whether by car, motorbike or on foot.
“This is especially true for people who are walking. Statistics from the Road Traffic Management Corporation show that up to 35 percent of all deaths on our roads are pedestrians. This is extremely worrying, and people who aren’t paying attention while walking and playing Pokémon Go are at risk of being part of this statistic,” added the AA.
The organisation also urged pedestrians to refrain from playing moble games while walking in public spaces.
Pokémon GO uses the GPS on smartphones to place a map on the screens before populated species pop up nearby.
Once you have travelled to the area a Pokémon is hiding out in, you tap on the creature on the map, and the camera renders it into the environment.