“Heads Up, Phones Down”: Cambridge students ‘taught’ how to use stairs in university’s safety campaign

Students at the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s leading institutions, are being reminded how to use stairs safely as part of a new health and safety campaign aimed at reducing staircase-related accidents.

Posters displayed around the University depict a person lying at the bottom of a staircase, phone in hand, suggesting distraction is the cause of the fall. The accompanying text advises students to avoid phone usage on the stairs and encourages them to remain aware of their surroundings. Slogans urge stair users to keep their “Heads up, phones down!”, and warn against becoming “the next accident”.

The posters, located in areas such as the Department of Engineering, include a website URL and QR code, encouraging students and staff to report any stair-related incidents or “near misses.”

 The Telegraph reports complaints of undergraduates who feel treated like “blithering idiots”

The campaign has drawn mixed reactions among students. Some have voiced frustration at what they view as patronizing messaging: The Telegraph reports complaints of undergraduates who feel treated like “blithering idiots”. Others have questioned the concept of a “near miss” in this context, and the potential outcomes of reporting such incidents.

The public response has been similarly varied. Local resident Carrie Webb, quoted by the Daily Mail, remarked humorously on the poster’s depiction, noting that the figure “is still holding their phone after neatly sliding down the whole staircase on their face.”

Despite the lighthearted reactions, the campaign is based on real concerns. A university spokesperson told The Telegraph that the initiative was prompted by “several accidents and near misses” linked to phone distractions on stairs. They added: “The university takes the health and safety of its staff and students seriously.”

No similar incidents or campaigns have been reported at the University of Warwick. However, students are reminded of the importance of staying alert, practising safe habits when using stairs, and keeping their “Heads up, phones down!” nonetheless.