Study warns of risks from ‘distracted walking’

Pedestrians cross a street in downtown Washington in this July 2012 file photo. Across the country on city streets, in suburban parking lots and in shopping centers, there is usually someone strolling while talking on a phone, texting with their head down, listening to music, or playing a video game. AP FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON, United States—You might think you can safely walk and text on your smartphone at the same time. But watch out for the other guy.

A study released Wednesday by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found 78 percent of US adults believe that distracted walking is a “serious” issue but only 29 percent say it’s a problem for them.

Most of those surveyed agreed that distracted walking—which could involve talking, listening to music or texting on a handset—is “dangerous,” yet 31 percent were likely to do so anyway, confident in their “multitasking” abilities.

The association pointed to a 2013 study showing a sharp increase in pedestrian accidents between 2004 and 2010, with mobile phone use a key factor in the rise.

The message however does not appear to be getting through to smartphone users, and many Americans appear to take the position that “it’s not me, it’s you,” according to the academy.

The survey found Americans are confident in their ability to multitask. When asked why they walk distracted, 48 percent said “they just don’t think about it,” 28 percent feel “they can walk and do other things,” and 22 percent “are busy and want to use their time productively,” the survey found.

New York City residents were most likely to view distracted walking as a serious issue (86 percent). But the city also had the highest number (39 percent) of people who said they walked and used their phones simultaneously.

“Today, the dangers of the ‘digital deadwalker’ are growing with more and more pedestrians falling down stairs, tripping over curbs, bumping into other walkers, or stepping into traffic causing a rising number of injuries—from scrapes and bruises to sprains and fractures,” said Alan Hilibrand, a spokesman for the association.

“Many of us simply need to force ourselves to set down our devices and focus on what’s in front of and around us.”

The survey conducted by the polling firm Ipsos queried 2,008 US adults October 8-20, and had a margin or error estimated at 2.5 percentage points.

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