People banned from looking at their phones while crossing the road in Honolulu

Pedestrians have been banned from looking at their phones while crossing the street in Honolulu.

Anyone caught texting or playing with their devices will be fined between £11 and £75 depending on whether or not they have been stopped before, Hawaiian authorities said.

The ban aims to reduce the number of deaths and injuries affecting so-called “smartphone zombies”.

A US study found phone-related distractions caused more than 11,000 injuries in the America between 2000 and 2011.

“Distracted walking” now appears on the National Safety Council’s list of the biggest risks for unintentional deaths and injuries in the US.

The city’s mayor Kirk Caldwell told Sky News: "We hold the unfortunate distinction of being a major city with more pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, particularly our seniors, than almost any other city in the country."

Honolulu will be the first US city to introduce the plan which comes in on October 25.

Anyone making an emergency call will be exempt from the fine, officials said.