Australia to trial ground-level traffic lights for smartphone users

epa05282822 The light of an in-ground traffic light is illuminated at a station as a tram passes over a pedestrian crossing in Cologne, Germany, 29 April 2016. In-ground traffic lights warn people looking down at their smartphones of traffic danger. EPA/OLIVER BERG

SYDNEY: Ground-level traffic lights for pedestrians constantly looking down at smartphones are set to be trialled in Sydney as Australian authorities seek to drive down the road death toll. 

It comes amid alarm about rising road fatalities this year, with officials launching the “Towards Zero” advertising campaign this week to increase awareness about accident rates.