I think they mean when not at an actual crossing and without ever even looking. I get it all the time, “phone zombies” stepping into the road right in front of me because my bicycle doesn’t make as much noise as a car. The bell seems to do nothing to wake them from their stupor so I have avoided fixing my loud squeaky brakes on purpose.
Also though, do people really need to constantly stare at their phones while walking anywhere, let alone where there are 1 tonne metal things moving at speed with pilots who may or may not have seen the red light?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ