NYPD puts out Pokemon GO safety advice

Pokemon GO players need to stay safe out there, and the NYPD has some tips on how to do that.

Yeah, Pokemon GO‘s loading screen uses a Gyarados to warn you about paying attention to your surroundings, but your eyes are more than likely glued to the bar showing how close you are to getting back into the game anyway. As a result, Pokemon GO has already started causing some real-world accidents.

Now, in an effort to help players stay safe, the New York Police Department’s Community Affairs Bureau has released a set of tips:

The tips read as follows, “So as you and your kids set out to capture them all:

• Play in pairs or as a group to ensure your safety
• Do not drive or ride your bike, skateboard, or other device while interacting with the app…you can’t do both safety [sic]
• Do not trespass onto private property or go to areas you usually would not if you weren’t playing Pokémon Go
• Be aware and tell your kids about “stranger-danger”.  The app may draw strangers together in real life at ‘Pokéstops’
• Parents – be aware of 3rd party software apps claiming to enhance the gaming experience however, these 3rd party apps only gives access to sensitive data – i.e. name, email, calendar.”

Now, these tips are all fairly basic, but basic doesn’t mean “completely unnecessary.” Because Pokemon GO requires you to constantly look down at your phone, it can be easy to miss something.

There’s another useful tip. Pokemon GO has a “battery saver” mode that can be enabled in your options. It enables you to rotate your screen (that is, turn it upside down), which will leave your phone on but turn your screen off. When you enable the vibration option as well, your phone will vibrate when a Pokemon appears, and PokeStops and Gyms will be clearly marked on your map whenever you turn your phone right-side-up again.

Now go forth and catch them all!

(H/T to Entertainment Weekly.)

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