As with motorists with mobile phones,should pedestrians be banned from using earphones.?

It's an interesting point and you're incident makes it seem a good idea, I know what you mean exactly about never forgiving yourself, even if the cause was purely unawareness. I think that pedestrians shouldn't be banned from having headphones on, but should have to take them out to cross roads and always stay aware with traffic, that's what I do. x.