Carl Kruger plans to make a name for himself. Apparently as a nanny.

I say “plans” because he made news recently by merely mentioning his intention to push for a new law.

I say “nanny” because, well, though he’s a New York state senator, hailing from Brooklyn, his proposal is a great illustration of the term “Nanny State.”

He wants to make it an offense to walk across a street while talking on a cellphone or listening to an iPod, or similar devices.

You’ve heard of jaywalking? I guess what Kruger objects to could be called iWalking.

It’s the job of parents and nannies to tell young children to “look both ways,” and “take that out of your ears.”

It’s not the job of governments to tell adults that. By the time you are an adult, you’ve got to just accept some responsibility. Really. It makes for a better world.

I read about Kruger’s agenda on WNBC.com. Kruger is quoted as saying “While people are tuning into their iPods and cell phones, they’re tuning out the world around them.” Well, sometimes.

And Kruger does bring up two tragedies, two recent pedestrian deaths. One happened last month: a 23-year-old man was walking in Bergen Beach, on Avenue T and East 71st. He was hit. And died.

It’s a cautionary tale that would be great to publicize. And had the senator just done that, fine. But drawing up a special law for iPods? Well, iBalk.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.