Mind the 'podestrian', drivers warned

It may sound a bit like a warning from TV's Hyacinth Bucket, but an insurance company has urged drivers to 'mind the podestrian', a phenomenon created by modern technology.

According to Swinton, the firm has seen an increase in the number of claims stemming from 'podestrians' - people who listen to their mp3 players while walking and are oblivious to traffic because they can't hear it.

This often means that people step out into the road, resulting in them being run over or causing an accident in which cars brake suddenly and shunt into each other.

Steve Chelton, insurer development manager at Swinton Insurance, said: "There seems to be a rising number of pedestrians who are isolated from traffic noise.

"This is often due to them having the volume [on their mp3 player] too high, or through the use of headphones with noise cancelling technology."

He added that people not concentrating on crossing the road because they are text messaging is also becoming a problem.

The expert warned that drivers should be extra vigilant for such podestrians - although perhaps people on foot may also wish to watch where they are going.

In related news, a recent poll by the AA Driving School found that 23 per cent of Britons are unable to decipher some of the most common road signs.