Lauren Henly has had her cane snapped four times in a month by careless texters. Picture: Craig Wilson

Many people can admit to bumping into someone while texting or talking on a mobile phone. For the average person no harm is done.

A quick “I’m sorry” and the day continues.

For Sydney’s Lauren Henly the aftermath of being bumped by someone not sticking to the common convention of walking on the left can be disastrous.

Ms Henly, who lost her vision in an accident, has had her cane snapped four times in a month from people bumping into her while using their phones.

Previously her cane, which is provided free by Guide Dogs NSW, would last between six and 12 months.

“Without the cane I can’t get from A to B, so it really is my tool for independence,” Ms Henly said. “It impacts upon me really severely.”

“It’s hard to have a spare one in your handbag because its quite large even when you fold it.

“I know people don’t do it on purpose and it’s accidental but once someone runs into you so significantly that the cane bends in half, you really can’t get to where you’re going, especially in the city.”

Ms Henly travels to her city job by train with her brother and sister-in-law.

They have witnessed people walking straight into her because they haven’t looked up from their phone.

Although she travels at about 7am and returns home about 4pm to avoid the rush-hour, the problem persists.

“It tends to happen in heavily trafficked environments around Martin Place and Angel Place.

“People say ‘Oh I just looked up and there you were’, so it shows that they were looking down at ­something.”

It’s that much of an issue that the Chinese city of Chongqing created a “talkway” lane to separate mobile users from other pedestrians.

China has the world’s largest smartphone network, with around 500 million smartphone users, according to China Daily.

It is similar to one that was painted on to 18th Street, Washington DC, in July, 2014, for an experiment into crowd behaviour by the National Geographic TV channel.

Ms Henly is urging pedestrians to be extra careful of their surroundings.

“If people can try and be mindful, so if they’re going to have their heads glued to their phones, to at least try to stick to those basic rules of stay on the left,” she said.

MOBILE PHONE ETIQUETTE:

Julie Lamberg-Burnet — Founder/Director — Sydney School of Protocol

● Texting while walking is plain dangerous not to mention embarrassing

● Look and listen around you — be totally aware of your surroundings

● Be thoughtful the way you use your phone — a courteous approach to

others on the pavement shows consideration

● Ensure when you need to take a call you step aside on the pavement,

speak quietly and make it short

● Be in control of your phone, don’t let it control you!