Heads Down, Eyes on Phones: A Growing Danger in Car Parks

It happened again. For what feels like the millionth time, I almost hit someone in a car park. A woman was walking directly toward my moving car, head completely down, eyes fixed on her phone. I had already stopped — thankfully — but she kept walking until she physically bumped into the car.

Not a glance up. Not a moment of pause. And definitely no apology.

She just stepped around the car and continued on her way, still completely immersed in whatever was on her screen. And honestly, it left me shaken.

This isn't just a one-off. I’ve seen it time and time again — both men and women walking through car parks, driveways, or streets, eyes locked on their phones, completely unaware of their surroundings. It has become so common that we hardly blink anymore. But we should.

Car parks are not footpaths. They’re shared spaces where people are reversing, maneuvering, and often have limited visibility. Drivers are cautious, of course — but we’re human too. If someone walks directly into a moving car and doesn’t even notice it’s there, that’s not just careless. It’s dangerous.

What’s more troubling is this: if an accident does happen, the blame almost always falls on the driver — even if they were moving slowly and being careful. The burden of responsibility seems to rest entirely on those behind the wheel.

But shouldn’t there be shared responsibility?

Looking at your phone while walking might feel harmless, but in spaces where cars move, it can quickly become life-threatening. No message or update is worth risking an injury — or worse.

So, here’s a simple reminder: Look up. Just for a moment. Your safety — and others’ peace of mind — might depend on it.