We all see a lot of coverage in the media about the dangers of distracted drivers, but what about distracted pedestrians? The online journal of "Injury Prevention" states that the injury and death rate of pedestrians distracted by technology has sky rocketed since 2004, more than tripling in that time period.
"Two phenomena are likely contributors to the possible association between headphone use and pedestrian injury: distraction and sensory deprivation," site authors of the journal Injury Prevention. When a pedestrian is distracted, they are inclined to walk slower and more likely to walk in front of a moving vehicle. Of 116 accidents from 2004 to 2011 where pedestrians were noted as using headphones, 70% resulted in fatalities; greater than two thirds were males under 30 years old and over half of the vehicles involved were trains.
This past February, a boy in Wisconsin was struck by a train as he walked with his head down and headphones on under his hood. Because his senses were deprived, he did not see the warning lights of the train or the sounds of it's horns blaring. Just a day later a similar situation occurred in Michigan and another teen was killed. As summer approaches, teens need to be made aware of how dangerous it is to not only drive but also to walk or ride a bike while distracted.
Pedestrians:
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid distractions like texting, talking on the phone, or wearing headphones.
• Make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you and know that you are there.
• Obey all crosswalk traffic laws.
Drivers:
• Look out for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially ones that may not be watching the road.
• Avoid distractions such as talking on the phone, listening to loud music, and texting.
• Always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Reduce speed on neighborhood streets
Increasing awareness among drivers and pedestrians is the only way to convey that multitasking on the road is extremely dangerous.
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