Though it isn’t as widely reported as distracted driving, it can be as dangerous. How often do you see people strolling while talking on phones or texting, heads down?
Reports of injuries to distracted walkers treated at hospital emergency rooms have more than quadrupled in the past seven years and are almost certainly underreported.
A security camera in Philadelphia recently captured an incident involving a young man talking on a cell phone meandering along the edge of a train platform at night. Suddenly he stumbles, loses his balance and pitches over the side, landing headfirst on the tracks. Fortunately there were no trains approaching the station at that moment.
Philadelphia officials are drafting a safety campaign that will be aimed in part at pedestrians who are looking at their devices instead of where they’re going.
For the whole story (Associated Press), click here.
