Bergstrom of Green Bay

Pokemon Go is the app game that is sweeping the nation, especially for young people (and the young at heart) that fell in love with Pokemon starting in the late 90s and early 2000s. In the new smartphone-based game, players get to catch Pokemon, collect items, join teams, and battle other players, all in an interactive framework that requires players to go to locations in the real world. Maybe you have heard far more about this new game than you want, or have fallen in love with it yourself, but below are four things drivers should know about Pokemon Go.

Watch Out for Pedestrians Playing Pokemon Go

Because Pokemon Go requires players to move around and interact with the real world, a lot more folks are going to be out and about. Two locations to be aware of are called Poke Stops and Gyms. These are locations where players can either get items needed to play, or battle other players. These are real-world locations, and usually parks, gathering places, or locations with historical significance. We haven’t been over to check, but we would guess that the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay (and many of the other places on our family-friendly activities list) would be Poke Stops.

When you are driving, especially in downtown areas with lots of attractions, be very careful around groups of young people wandering with smartphones. Phones are always a distraction, but pedestrians may be even less aware of traffic when trying to catch rare Pokemon like Pikachu.

Do Not Play Pokemon Go While Driving

This one is pretty obvious but it has to be said. It’s easy to get distracted while driving, and Pokemon Go is interactive enough that you really can’t play and watch traffic at the same time. We don’t care if you are a habitual music loving, eating-and-driving, phone-calling fiend behind the wheel (well, we do care, because you should probably cut back on that too) but Pokemon Go and paying attention on the road do not work well together.

Read More: Integrate Your Car and Smartphone with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

Other People Can Play Pokemon Go While You Drive

Part of the reason we were so fervent in the above advice is that it is possible to play Pokemon Go while on the road. The app requires people to travel to different locations and interact with the real world, but we have heard that you can catch Pokemon and even visit Poke Stops while on the road, even at decent speeds.

Pokemon Go Requires Data

Because Pokemon Go uses your actual location, it uses GPS smartphone data. We’re not completely sure whether or not you can use Wi-Fi (like the hotspot available in most Chevy vehicles) to bolster your monthlysmartphone data or not.

Thank you for reading our four things drivers should know about Pokemon Go post! We hope you are able to stay safe (and, if desired, catch many Pokemon).