The province has had distracted driving legislation for a while now and one city councilor says maybe that legislation needs to be expanded to crack down on Calgarians for inattentiveness while walking.

Ward 1 Councillor, Ward Sutherland, says pedestrians need to pay more attention and spend less time on their electronic devices while out on city streets.

“It’s quite apparent now, and it’s across North America, that everybody’s involved in their electronics. They have their heads down, they’re not paying attention. Just the attitude that, I have the right and you better stop for me is not smart, safe thinking to begin with,” said Sutherland.

He says a test at Washington University last year showed only one in four people noticed a clown walking across campus because they had their noses buried in their phones.

“Police officers are noticing people, they’re bumping people, they step out onto the curb, they don’t know how much time is left in the crosswalk, they’re not paying attention, they’ve got the electronics on. Same thing with the LRT, we’re just saying, get some awareness,” he said.

Sutherland plans on bringing the issue to the police commission over the holidays.

“What happened to the old days where you look both ways and cross the street? Now it’s, I have a right and I’m into my electronics and I think it’s white, now I’m just walking, there’s responsibility on both sides,” said Sutherland.

He says it is becoming an issue in Calgary and that an awareness program might help or it might require some type of enforcement like a ticket.

Calgarians are mixed on the issue but many agree that the problem is growing.

“Sometimes it’s annoying when you’re stuck behind people and they’re texting as they’re walking and not paying attention and going slow,” said Kim Boyes.

“I’m really busy so I usually check my emails on my way back to work so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it as long as you’re paying attention to a certain degree I guess, not getting hit by a car,” said Erin Viala.

“I don’t think we need to be worried about it as long as you're smart and figure it out, you’ll be fine,” said one man.

“It sounds a little bit ridiculous but it’s definitely got some merit to it I guess, cause there is a lot of people on their cell phones walking across the street, jaywalking and dangerous” said Cody Neary.

It will likely be January before any kind of motion is put before council on the issue.