Most of us are aware that distracted drivers are responsible for a large number of accidents. Whether drivers are talking on their cell phone, texting, eating, fiddling with the radio, or turning around to see what the kids are doing in the back seat, distracted driving is a major contributor in auto accidents. While legislators are doing their best to do something about the use of cell phones through texting bans or requiring a hands-free speaker for your cell phone, they have not yet addressed the dangers of distracted pedestrians.
Statistics on Pedestrian Accidents
Over 5,000 pedestrians are killed each year in an auto accident with another 70,000 or so being seriously injured. Over half of these accidents take place at night while fast-moving children and slower moving seniors are far and away the most vulnerable group. Over one-tenth of all traffic fatalities involve pedestrians, leaving literally thousands of people permanently disabled due to such accidents. While a pedestrian is more likely to die in an accident which took place on a rural road—due to higher speeds—many more pedestrian accidents and resulting deaths occur in urban settings. While the vast majority of pedestrian accidents, injuries and fatalities are the result of distracted, negligent, reckless or impaired drivers, there are occasions where the pedestrian is at fault.
Pedestrian Distractions
If you live in a city it’s a pretty sure bet you have observed pedestrians talking on their cell phones while crossing busy intersections, or even reading a map, or looking at a city landmark instead of paying attention to traffic. Many pedestrians have headphones on and are listening to music, effectively preventing them from hearing the screech of brakes or even a honking horn, depending on the volume level of their music. In our age of super-technology, it is even not so uncommon to see a pedestrian reading their electronic Kindle or Nook as they walk down the street, or to see them surfing the net on their iPad.
Even if they are not engaged in some sort of interaction with an electronic device, you will see pedestrians walking in groups with their friends who are totally engrossed in the conversation—and totally oblivious to dangers around them. Finally, there are a fair amount of pedestrians who are impaired through the use of alcohol or drugs who wander city streets on a regular basis. These people have no comprehension of the potential danger of walking across a busy city street without looking either way.
Studies on Pedestrians and Cell Phone Use
Research has shown that pedestrians who are talking on their cell phone tend to walk slower, are much less likely to notice other people and objects around them, are substantially less likely to either wait for traffic to stop before crossing or to look both ways before crossing, are more likely to step out in front of an approaching car, and overall pay much less attention to traffic. Additionally, cell phones have been shown to block the field of vision from whichever direction the phone is held to the ear, and more distraction is noted when the phone connection is back, or the background noise is especially loud. This research could likely be applied to those using Mp3 players, iPads, Nooks and Kindles as well. Essentially, anything which captures the attention which should be 100% focused on the vehicles and people around the pedestrian results in a distraction which could end up being deadly.
The number of pedestrian deaths and injuries is on the rise, and it is likely it will continue to rise as more and more pedestrians ignore the rules of safety and continue to use attention-absorbing hand-held mobile devices. There is some talk among government officials regarding making the use of such devices in crosswalks illegal, but the bottom line is that pedestrian distraction can be just as harmful as driver distraction.
If you are the victim of a pedestrian accident caused through pedestrian distraction, consult a Mississippi personal injury attorney from our law firm for legal advice.