> None of this means crossing the street with your head buried in a smartphone is a good idea.

Well yeah. 

As for the 'statistics', suppose someone steps out onto a crosswalk, texting away, at the same time a car (maybe too close to come to a stop?) comes zooming along. 

Q: Who is at fault? 

A: For the pedestrian, it doesn't matter. 

And if you want to start relying exclusively on 'statistics', how many accidents are caused by cars that 'don't come to a complete stop at a stop sign'??

'Common sense' suggests it isn't a good idea, which is another way to say, 'People shouldn't do this'. 

Pass the law and, probably very occasionally, it will be enforced. And if the G&M bothers to report these times, it will encourage other people to pay attention when crossing the road. 

Otherwise you are left with 'finger-wagging' at the person and we all know how effective that is.