Listening to Mobile Devices Can Be Dangerous
By now, everyone has heard about the dangers of distracted driving. But, did you know that walking while using mobile devices can be equally fatal?
For the first time in four years pedestrian deaths have risen, in Alabama.
Richmond, Virginia Police recently told NBC12, that a valet for the Hilton Garden Inn, while driving a limousine struck a 23-year-old female pedestrian while she was walking on the sidewalk. While it was perhaps a bizarre accident for this to have happened, there is a very real danger present when crossing a busy street on a college campus, or at a high school.
Listening to Music can be Dangerous
Listening to music while crossing the street is risky from uabnews on Vimeo. |
A recent health research study found that pedestrians using mobile devices, especially listening to music, were are at heightened risk of being hit at crosswalks.
The risk of being hit was 6 percent with no distractions, 12 percent while talking on a cellphone, up to 25 percent while texting, and a shocking 33 percent while listening to music.
Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham put 125 student test subjects through a rather novel approach of using a virtual computer environment lab that simulated cars moving in multiple directions. The test subjects were never placed in any real danger.
The researchers were surprised to have found that one in three students listening to music with ear phones were unable to cross the street safely.
For your own safety, be sure to turn-off your mobile devices when crossing streets.
References:
- Distracted walking: cell phones increase injury risk for college pedestrians.
Stavrinos D, Byington KW, Schwebel DC ...
J Safety Res. 2011 Apr;42(2):101-7. Epub 2011 Mar 1.
PMID: 21569892
