You’ve heard of ‘distracted driving’, now watch out for ‘distracted walking’
Walking with headphones on can have the same effects on a person as being temporarily blind. This comparison was made in a recent NPR article about a new phenomenon: “distracted walking”.
Distracted walking occurs when pedestrians are strolling while wearing headphones. Between 2001 and 2008, 116 deaths in the United States were reported involving pedestrians and vehicles. The frightening trend in these accidents is that in more than half of them, a warning signal such as a horn was involved. Unfortunately, the pedestrian’s headphones or other media device made it impossible for them to hear.
It is not just the noise cancellation that can be dangerous when wearing and using MP3 players or cell phones. “Inattentional blindness” occurs in both walkers and drivers when they are using their media devices, looking down, not paying attention to their surroundings. Because of the extremely high increase of mortality while driving and texting, many states have outlawed the usage of cell phones in any capacity behind the wheel. Should pedestrians be included in this ban?
Tips to Avoid Distracted Walking and Driving
The easiest way to avoid the two dangerous habits are to eliminate usage altogether. However, I know that is not always an option, especially with kids and teens. Talk about these tips to keep kids safe when traveling from point A to point B
- Make a playlist before you get on the road. By assembling the songs you want to hear before leaving, you won’t have to touch or look at your device in transit.
- Keep the volume low. Test volume by speaking to children with their headphones on before they leave the house. If they can’t hear you at a normal volume, the music is too loud.
- Use speakerphone. Holding the phone to your ear while driving leaves only one hand on the wheel. Using the speakerphone feature allows the driver to set the phone down and focus on the road.
- Try to eliminate walking and driving alone. Not only is walking alone dangerous, but having someone next to you whether on the sidewalk or in the car encourages conversation and discourages the need to use electronic devices. Plus, two sets of eyes are always better than one.
Being aware of your surroundings at all times is one of the top safety tips in any situation. Walking and driving is no different. You should be able to enjoy your media devices and be safe at the same time!
Ken Levinson is a child safety lawyer in Chicago. If you have a story about distracted walking or driving, contact Ken today!
Photo credit: flattop341
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