Don’t Pokemon GO and Drive
One of the biggest opportunities for disasters while playing Pokemon Go is operating a vehicle while playing. I’m disappointed to say that while I was out finding Pokemon, I saw a ton of people who were clearly playing and driving at the same time. People seem determined to text while they drive, despite the many car accidents and deaths that could have been prevented by putting phones away while in the car, so it’s no surprise that Pokemon Go users could also be tempted to play as the drive.
The exploration aspect of the game makes driving from Pokestop to Pokestop very inciting, but that is dangerous, illegal, and not in the real spirit of the game. Niantic and many police stations have already issued warnings about how foolish and dangerous it is to have the game open while driving. It only takes a moment of attention away from driving to cause a fatal car accident. It is always tragic to lose members of our community this way, be smart and put your phone away while driving.
Be Aware of Danger Zones/Play in Groups
Unfortunately, the game can also be dangerous outside of playing and driving with other factors such as crime. Luckily, I have yet to run into any of these problems while playing, but the risk is certainly there. It’s a sad reality that Pokemon Go is much more dangerous in some city neighborhoods than it is for students in a low-crime college campus. Many people live in neighborhoods where it’s not safe to wander around with a cell phone in hand because of possible robberies as well as other similar crimes. Players need to be aware of their surroundings and be very careful to stay safe when out Poke-hunting. This is true even for players who think they live in a safe area, it will never hurt to be as careful as you can.
There have already been reports of armed robberies at pokestops where a lure module was used to pull in victims. Playing with a group of friends is much safer than wandering around alone, but even in a large group, stay out of dark areas and places that appear dangerous. The game is all about exploration, but it’s still important to be aware of your surroundings and avoid spots that give off a dangerous vibe.
Be smart!
There are plenty of other risks at play when chasing down Pokemon, but those are a few of the biggest to keep in mind. The game is fantastic at bringing people together, so it would be terrible to see any more people get hurt while playing a game that is meant to bring joy into our lives. Stay safe out there trainers and remember to keep your heads up!
