Several recent studies have shown a significant increase in the number of fatalities involving distracted pedestrians. According to a news report in Automotive Fleet, these risky behaviors are linked to cell phone usage. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that there was an 8.8 percent increase in the number of distraction-related fatalities in 2015 compared to the previous year. This increase in car accidents has also led to an increase in Middletown car accident lawyer.
Why Is Distracted Walking A Serious Danger To Pedestrians?
Just in January of 2017, several publications around the country reported that a record number of pedestrians died in 2016 as a result of traffic collisions. Last year, Colorado saw a 15-year high when it came to pedestrian deaths, the Denver Post reported. A record was set in Minnesota as well with a 25-year high in pedestrian accident deaths. In New York City, pedestrian accident fatalities increased in 2016 as well. Safety advocates attribute this increase in pedestrian deaths not just to distracted driving, but also distracted walking.
Study after study has found that using cell phones while driving is dangerous because it takes drivers’ attention away from the road and its hazards. But, what many don’t realize is that distracted walking is dangerous as well. Researchers in The Ohio State University conducted two studies and found that for pedestrians, as with drivers, cognitive distraction from the use of cell phones reduces situational awareness and increased unsafe behavior putting pedestrians at a greater risk for accidents.
One study in particular looked at whether pedestrians are distracted by conversations on cell phones, which might reduce their awareness of their surroundings. Researchers found that study participants who walked a prescribed route while having a cell phone conversation missed signs and warnings placed along the way. They found a higher percentage of unsafe behavior among those who were talking on a cell phone while walking.
What Are Some Tips for Safe Walking?
There are several steps you can take to prevent distracted walking. First, develop good habits. Put your phone away while walking and apply a little self-discipline with your technology. Put your safety and the safety of others first. If you must talk or send out a text, stop at a safe location and finish your conversation or sending/receiving your texts. Proceed after you are done. Using voice text options is still not a good idea because it forces to take your attention away from the road. Put your phone away when you need to cross a street. Always use crosswalks when you walk across the street.
Contact a Middletown Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a Middletown car accident, the experienced Middletown personal injury lawyers at d’Oliveira & Associates, located at 1521 West Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842, can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Call us at (401) 846-5499 or 1-800-992-6878 for a no-cost consultation and case evaluation.