Road safety chiefs are looking at drastic measures to save pedestrians glued to smartphones from being run over.
Warning lights could be installed in pavements and curbstones at crossings in a bid to catch their eye as they blindly “scroll” along.
They are already being trialled in Holland and in Augsburg, Germany, at tram crossings.
The “phone zombie” lights are among proposals to be considered when ministers publish Britain’s Road Safety Action Plan on Friday.
Research will be carried out to see how many pedestrians are involved in accidents because of phone use. And ministers are ready to study technology introduced abroad.
Road Safety Minister Michael Ellis said: “Too many families are being ripped apart by tragic incidents. The action plan will kick off work I hope will reduce road fatalities and injuries.”
Mr Ellis will also look at technology that will let zombies know cars are coming by making phones vibrate.
And he will explore how teachers can do more to help teenagers change their smartphone behaviour.
Department for Transport research already shows that looking at phones and listening to music are among the top contributory dangers that result in seven to 16-year-olds becoming road casualties.
Friday’s report will unveil more than 70 proposals to help improve road safety including law changes.
It will say: “We will commission research to understand whether significant distraction from mobile phone use leads to increased risk of road collisions for child pedestrians.”
Road deaths dropped from 2,946 in 2007 to 1,793 in 2017. But Mr Ellis said: “We must do more.”
