Study: 'Distracted Walking' Causes More Injuries Than Distracted Driving

[marmar]

from the Atlantic:



PROBLEM: Because people absorbed in a conversation have trouble paying attention to anything else, we're beginning to realize that even hands-free devices don't make driving while talking on the phone much safer. But even though they have less to pay attention to, "inattention blindness" can strike pedestrians, too. In just one example, people who were using their cell phones while walking "were less likely to notice a clown on a unicycle" that passed by. One in three people don't put their phones down even to cross a busy street.

METHODOLOGY: Ohio State University researchers Jack Nasar and Derek Troyer collected information on cell-phone related emergency room visits from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (the same database that brought us "The Top Ways We Injure Our Genitals&quot . They looked at all injuries for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicle drivers between 2004 and 2010.

RESULTS: Nasar and Troyer's dive into hospital case studies brings us schadenfreudic gems like this: "28-year-old male walked into pole talking on phone and lacerated brow." And this: "14-year-old male walking down road talking on cell phone, fell 6-8 ft. off bridge into ditch." Notice that these people were talking, not texting. In fact, 69.5 percent of the injuries that occured during this time came from people who were distracted by a conversation; texting only accounted for 9.1 percent. The majority were under the age of 31 (because, Millennials), and men were injured more often than women. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/study-distracted-walking-causes-more-injuries-than-distracted-driving/277032/

[leveymg]

1. Well, then: set up distracted walking random checks; make it a felony; build more private prisons.

That's the American way.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. That's when one's distraction hurts someone else.

The American way for injuries to self while distracted would be denial of health insurance coverage.

[leveymg]

7. Even without injury to anyone. Ever heard of a DUI?

[WovenGems]

2. Distracted

The voluntarily handicapped never cease to amaze me. You need hearing, seeing and smelling capabilities when out and about or in motion. This BS started with the Sony Walkman. And I don't see an end given GoogleGlasses.

[xchrom]

3. ...

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. If more people didn't

pick up after their pets. This problem would be fixed right quick. ewww...

[dipsydoodle]

6. Yes

[kestrel91316]

8. When distracted walking kills multiple innocent bystanders, then we can talk.

Until then.............

[intaglio]

9. Part of my job involve a lot of walking between addresses

I have a mobile phone and a hand-held computer; standing instructions from the company are that if you take a call (even by bluetooth) or need to read the HHC you stop, because the majority of slips, trips and falls happen when walking and using those items.