Lansdale Police Issue Public Safety Reminders In Light of Pokemon Go

Lansdale, PA -- Lansdale police joined law enforcement agencies and community groups around the region in warning of the potential dangers of Pokemon Go, which has led obsessed players to drive distracted, trespass on private property, and even walk straight off cliffs.

Lansdale Police issued the following video for the community on what has become, in some areas, a public safety hazard:

• Our goal, as always, is safety. While the game is fun, we don't want people to become so immersed in it that they are not aware of their surroundings and walk into traffic.
• Definitely do NOT use the game while driving.
• When playing, we encourage gamers to play with a group. Not only will this help everyone be aware of their surroundings, it will help deter any potential criminals/predators that may also be using the app for their own nefarious activities.
• There are already several documented cases where criminals used the application to rob other gamers or lure children.
• Oh...and kids. Playing PokemonGo is not a viable excuse to break curfew.

To the north, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office shared an image that read "Don't Pokemon and Drive." Beneath the image they said, "We can't believe we have to post this."

AAA has equated Pokemon Go with texting and drinking while driving.

"Don’t text and drive, don’t drink and drive, don’t Pokémon Go and drive," AAA Mid-Atlantic warned in a press release Friday. "Playing Pokémon Go behind the wheel is just as dangerous as any other form of distracted driving."

The auto club also cautioned in their statement that distracted pedestrians are risking their safety and the safety of other road users when they take their eyes off the sidewalk and roads.

Distracted driving is responsible for the deaths of one out of every 10 drivers nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

AAA recommends that drivers put their cellphone in the glove compartment or trunk to avoid the temptation, and to download a safety app that will lock your phone while driving.

Image courtesy Monroe County Sheriff's Office.