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Don't play Pokemon Go while driving a car, state says

"No Pokemoning from behind the wheel."

GameSpot staff
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GameSpot staff
2 min read

The state of Washington's Department of Transportation has a message for Pokemon Go players: don't play while driving.

In a tweet today, the Washington DOT advised fans to play the game safely. "No Pokemoning from behind the wheel," the government agency said in its message, which was accompanied by an animated GIF of the Pokemon Eevee.

Pokemon Go challenges players to go out in the real world to locate and catch Pokemon. Notifications pop up when creatures are nearby, which in theory could distract people -- wherever they are.

It's not immediately clear, however, if the game notifies players of nearby Pokemon while in their cars. Whatever the case, you probably don't need anyone to tell you playing a video game -- or doing anything else that distracts you -- while driving is a bad idea.

The message from Washington's DOT is not the first from an official government authority. Earlier this week, Australia's Northern Territory Police, Fire, and Emergency Services published a post on its Facebook page telling Pokemon Go players to look up once in a while.

People are finding Pokemon all over the place. Recently, a man caught a Pidgey in a hospital room where his wife was preparing to give birth.

Pokemon Go's release this week has ran into some problems, but they haven't stopped the game from rising to the top of the charts. Additionally, the game's success has lifted Nintendo shares to a two-month high.

For more on Pokemon Go, check out GameSpot's roundup of everything you need to know. Keep checking back with GameSpot for more on Pokemon Go in the days ahead.