Texting while walking increases risk of getting hit by car: UBC study

From Vice

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Distracted drivers are responsible for many collisions in B.C., but a new study is pointing the finger at the risk of distracted walking.

A new study out of UBC on Tuesday suggests people who walk and text at the same time walk more slowly and less steadily, increasing the risk of getting hit by a vehicle.

Engineers used automated video analysis to examine the movements and walking behaviour of pedestrians at a busy four-way intersection in Kamloops. Through three mounted cameras, they analyzed 357 pedestrians over two days.

“We found that more than a third of pedestrians were distracted by their cellphones – texting and reading or talking and listening,” said lead author Rushdi Alsaleh.

“Distracted pedestrians had more trouble maintaining their walking speed and gait and took longer to cross the road, increasing the potential for conflict with vehicles.”

Read more: https://www.vicnews.com/news/texting-while-walking-increases-risk-of-getting-hit-by-car-ubc-study/

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I think is an example of a study about something we all already knew. I don't think this result is shocking to anyone. In my eyes it's pretty obvious that walking around distracted is going to lead to more collisions with both fellow pedestrians and cars.

Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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