Texting: Not Just Dangerous When Driving

A recent study conducted by researchers in Seattle by Harborview, which is a part of the University of Washington, found that texting is not only dangerous while driving, but walk walking. While crossing intersections, the study found, pedestrians who were occupied by personal electronics, such as cell phones, were more reckless and slower to cross. People listening to music devices crossed a bit faster, they were also, however, less attentive to their surroundings. Of these tech junkies, co-author, Beth Ebel, said that "people are simply not paying attention.

These are already out-dated. Feel old yet?

 As of 2010, more than 80% of adults alone owned cellphones, and that number has been growing exponentially. A 2011 study found that people who are distracted by listening to music and texting also missed more opportunities to get to the other side. They were also involved in more accidents that resulted in pedestrian vehicle impact. The authors of that paper suggest that, while it would probably be difficult to enforce, legal repercussions  at least in writing, could be put in place to decrease the problem. This could be effective in the same way jaywalking is illegal, but rarely enforced; people still do it, but perhaps a bit less - especially when police are within sight. Multiple studies have shown a surprisingly significant amount of data regarding improved jaywalking behaviour.

Screw it, I'm doing both.

Oh, and then there's this splash of hilarity.

If it is any consolation, drivers are about 40% more likely to pay attention to distracted pedestrians than non-distracted pedestrians. They are, however, according to that same study, also 15 times less likely than pedestrians to pay attention to the ongoings at intersections in general. Interpret that how you may.

Will any such study affect your walking habits  Most people, says Dr. Ebel, will say that they are already more aware of their surroundings and able to handle the distractions better than others - she even says so of herself. Perhaps we can learn, but it might not actually change anything. Mayhap laws could. What say you?

Geese would be exempt.

Her, too.