Walking And Talking Could Get You Hurt

1 min

Did you know that when you talk or text on your cellphone while crossing the street you walk at a slower pace, take smaller steps and walk in a more erratic fashion than individuals who aren’t using a phone? That behavior could get you hit by a car. “The longer you’re in the cross walk, the longer you are exposed to potential conflicts and collisions,” according to Tarek Sayed, a professor of civil engineering at Vancouver’s University of British Columbia and senior author of a study that examined the use of cell phones while crossing the street. He and his team of researchers used a system of automated video analysis to examine the movements of 357 pedestrians crossing a busy four-way intersection. They found that nearly 38 percent were using their cellphones, mostly texting or reading. Professor Sayed noted that the cognitive effort involved in texting limits visual sensory input, which can impair balance and lead to falls. It could also cost you money – an increasing number of cities are imposing fines for crossing the street while talking or texting.

Source:
Tarek Sayed et al, “Assessing the Effect of Pedestrians’ Use of Cell Phones on Their Walking Behavior: A Study Based on Automated Video Analysis.” Transportation Report Record, June 13, 2018

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