LOOK UP DISTRACTED PEDESTRIANS

Distracted drivers have long been the cause of numerous accidents. The driver of a motor vehicle on a cell phone, texting, applying make-up or anything else that makes them look anywhere else than the road can be dangerous and even fatal BUT what about a distracted pedestrian? Current research suggests that Mp3, Smart Phone, Handheld Computers, cell phone-using pedestrians:

Walk slower;

Are less likely to notice other objects in their environment, even if they are prominent;

Select smaller crossing gaps in traffic;

Are less likely to look at traffic before starting to cross;

Are less likely to wait for traffic to stop;

Are less likely to look at traffic while crossing;

Are more likely to walk out in front of an approaching car;

Are more likely to be un-intentionally blind; and

Pay less attention to traffic (children);

None of this is surprising. Studies suggest that one in three people use their phones while crossing the street. Admit it: Are you among the one in three who uses their phones while crossing the street?

These devices will almost certainly create very high levels of pedestrian distraction. It is safe to say that the number of distracted pedestrian accidents will rise rapidly as these devices become more common and more capable of increasingly complex uses. As per the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario Pedestrian Death Review, 2010, approximately 20% of pedestrians may have had some form of distraction, such as using a cell phone, MP3 player, or mobile device at the time of the fatal incident.

If you’ve ever bumped into something or stepped into traffic while walking and texting or scrolling through your MP3 player, it’s time that you LOOK UP.