How To Avoid Distracted Pedestrian Injuries?

The consequences of distracted driving have been a debate subject over the years, which has led almost all states across the country to put some sort of laws into effect that penalize those who use their cell phones while driving. Apart from motorists, a lot of pedestrians get injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers, too. But, pedestrian safety is affected by another factor, in addition to distracted driving. It's distracted walking, which refers to pedestrians who are talking on their cell phones, typing text messages, or doing some other distracting activity while walking down a sidewalk or crossing a street.

In 2010, over 1,500 people got injured while walking on a street and using their cell phones at the same time. The number of injuries caused by distracted walking has been climbing steadily during the last couple of years. There is lots of scientific evidence proving that talking on a cell phone while walking causes a cognitive distraction. It takes a lot of brain power to talk on a phone and stay aware of your surroundings while walking.

Distracted pedestrians are not only a hazard to themselves, but to other road users, as well. A lot of drivers end up hitting another car or some other object as they try to avoid a pedestrian crossing a street against a red light. That's why various states are trying to come up with different ways to prevent people from talking on cell phones while walking. Some states have implemented laws that make this activity illegal, imposing fines for those who do it, while others have only launched various campaigns to raise people's awareness of this issue.

When it comes to distracted walking laws, there is the example of the state of Utah, where legislators passed a law with a $50 fine for distracted walking, but only around Utah Transit Authority rail lines. Legislators were motivated to pass this law by the high number of train accidents that have happened recently.

There are some states that don't punish distracted walking in any way, such as Delaware and New York, where large stickers with the words "Look Up" have been placed on sidewalks near crosswalks, reminding pedestrians to take a look around them and see whether it's safe to cross the street before they set a foot on the crosswalk.

Finally, pedestrians should remember to put down their phones while walking, or step to the side when talking, in case they really have to make a phone call. Also, they should avoid listening to music and reading a book while walking.

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Jordan Perch has published 7 articles. Article submitted on August 26, 2013. Word count: 423

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How To Avoid Distracted Pedestrian Injuries?

The consequences of distracted driving have been a debate subject over the years, which has led almost all states across the country to put some sort of laws into effect that penalize those who use their cell phones while driving. Apart from motorists, a lot of pedestrians get injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers, too. But, pedestrian safety is affected by another factor, in addition to distracted driving. It's distracted walking, which refers to pedestrians who are talking on their cell phones, typing text messages, or doing some other distracting activity while walking down a sidewalk or crossing a street.

In 2010, over 1,500 people got injured while walking on a street and using their cell phones at the same time. The number of injuries caused by distracted walking has been climbing steadily during the last couple of years. There is lots of scientific evidence proving that talking on a cell phone while walking causes a cognitive distraction. It takes a lot of brain power to talk on a phone and stay aware of your surroundings while walking.

Distracted pedestrians are not only a hazard to themselves, but to other road users, as well. A lot of drivers end up hitting another car or some other object as they try to avoid a pedestrian crossing a street against a red light. That's why various states are trying to come up with different ways to prevent people from talking on cell phones while walking. Some states have implemented laws that make this activity illegal, imposing fines for those who do it, while others have only launched various campaigns to raise people's awareness of this issue.

When it comes to distracted walking laws, there is the example of the state of Utah, where legislators passed a law with a $50 fine for distracted walking, but only around Utah Transit Authority rail lines. Legislators were motivated to pass this law by the high number of train accidents that have happened recently.

There are some states that don't punish distracted walking in any way, such as Delaware and New York, where large stickers with the words "Look Up" have been placed on sidewalks near crosswalks, reminding pedestrians to take a look around them and see whether it's safe to cross the street before they set a foot on the crosswalk.

Finally, pedestrians should remember to put down their phones while walking, or step to the side when talking, in case they really have to make a phone call. Also, they should avoid listening to music and reading a book while walking.

Rate this Article

How To Avoid Distracted Pedestrian Injuries?Not Rated Yet

Jordan Perch has published 7 articles. Article submitted on August 26, 2013. Word count: 423

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Written by: Fahad Hizam

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How To Avoid Distracted Pedestrian Injuries?

The consequences of distracted driving have been a debate subject over the years, which has led almost all states across the country to put some sort of laws into effect that penalize those who use their cell phones while driving. Apart from motorists, a lot of pedestrians get injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers, too. But, pedestrian safety is affected by another factor, in addition to distracted driving. It's distracted walking, which refers to pedestrians who are talking on their cell phones, typing text messages, or doing some other distracting activity while walking down a sidewalk or crossing a street.

In 2010, over 1,500 people got injured while walking on a street and using their cell phones at the same time. The number of injuries caused by distracted walking has been climbing steadily during the last couple of years. There is lots of scientific evidence proving that talking on a cell phone while walking causes a cognitive distraction. It takes a lot of brain power to talk on a phone and stay aware of your surroundings while walking.

Distracted pedestrians are not only a hazard to themselves, but to other road users, as well. A lot of drivers end up hitting another car or some other object as they try to avoid a pedestrian crossing a street against a red light. That's why various states are trying to come up with different ways to prevent people from talking on cell phones while walking. Some states have implemented laws that make this activity illegal, imposing fines for those who do it, while others have only launched various campaigns to raise people's awareness of this issue.

When it comes to distracted walking laws, there is the example of the state of Utah, where legislators passed a law with a $50 fine for distracted walking, but only around Utah Transit Authority rail lines. Legislators were motivated to pass this law by the high number of train accidents that have happened recently.

There are some states that don't punish distracted walking in any way, such as Delaware and New York, where large stickers with the words "Look Up" have been placed on sidewalks near crosswalks, reminding pedestrians to take a look around them and see whether it's safe to cross the street before they set a foot on the crosswalk.

Finally, pedestrians should remember to put down their phones while walking, or step to the side when talking, in case they really have to make a phone call. Also, they should avoid listening to music and reading a book while walking.

Rate this Article

How To Avoid Distracted Pedestrian Injuries?Not Rated Yet

Jordan Perch has published 7 articles. Article submitted on August 26, 2013. Word count: 423

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Seatbelt Use Improves for 2012 to Help Prevent Auto Accident Injuries

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a study indicating that the amount of people wearing a seatbelt when they ride in an automobile increased from the previous year. Slowly more people are becoming aware about the benefits of wearing the safety restraint in a vehicle to reduce the amount of injuries present during or after a vehicle collision.

An 86 percent of people wore a seatbelt while riding in a vehicle for 2012. According to the data the number is being considered significant when compared to 2011's 84 percent. The results come from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). It is the only survey that provides nationwide probability based observed data on seat belt use in the United States.

Annually NHTSA and the National Center for Statistics conduct NOPUS. Since 1994, seat belt use has shown an increasing trend, accompanied by a steady decline in the percentage of unrestrained daytime passenger vehicle (PV) occupant fatalities.

The 2012 safety restraint survey also found the following:

Seat belt use for occupants in the South showed a significant increase from 80 percent in 2011 to 85 percent in 2012.In sections within the United States where primary law requires seatbelt use, the amount of people wearing their seatbelt was higher when compared to those states where wearing a seatbelt takes on secondary law. In primary states, people can simply be pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, unlike secondary law states.When year 2012 stats are compared to 2011, seatbelt use "increased significantly in 2012 as compared to 2011 among drivers, right-front passengers, occupants in primary law States as well as in secondary law States, occupants traveling during weekdays, and across occupants of all vehicle types," per the report.

Wearing a seatbelt is important as it can help reduce the seriousness of an injury after an automobile collision and in some cases it can help save lives.

It is recommended that people protect themselves from serious injury after a collision by appropriately fastening their seatbelt. Research has found that lap/shoulder seatbelts when used correctly can reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by approximately 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. In 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives.

Next time you enter that vehicle, even if it is to drive down to the end of the block or ride around the parking lot make sure to fasten for safety.

Paul Lee is a car accident lawyer who encourages that people wear a seatbelt whenever they drive in a motor vehicle.