Study: Texting While Walking Can Also Cause Pedestrian Accidents
Texting is a major source of distraction for drivers that can easily result in a collision with a pedestrian, motorcyclist, or other vehicle, and, in fact, very few determined Missouri pedestrian accident attorneys have never handled a distracted-driving case. However, “distracted walking,” caused when pedestrians are absorbed in texting or smartphone use, can also cause serious injuries.
According to the results of one study from the University of Washington, about one in every four pedestrians engages in “distracted walking” at any given time. As many as 74 percent fail to follow the basic safety rules for crossing a street, such as checking to make sure the “walk” signal is activated and looking both ways for oncoming traffic.
One of the most dangerous distractions for pedestrians was texting while walking, but it was not the only distraction that caused accidents during the study, according to researchers. Other dangerously distracting pedestrian behaviors included listening to music, talking on a cell phone, talking to other pedestrians, and interacting with children or pets.
Pedestrians who were texting or dealing with other distractions were not only less likely to notice oncoming traffic but more likely to be in the road when the light changed, according to the study. Distracted pedestrians took, on average, one and a half seconds longer to cross the street, but those who were texting took up to four seconds longer - long enough to be easily hit by an oncoming vehicle.
Pedestrian accidents can cause serious injuries. If you’re hurt in a pedestrian crash, contact Missouri pedestrian accident attorney John Page to learn more about your legal rights.
