Watch Your Step, Distracted Walking Can Cause an Injury

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Yesterday on my ride to work, I learned some startling statistics about distracted walking. The ironic part of the study are the statistics, that go something like this:

In the United States, 78% of adults believe that distracted walking is a “serious” issue. But the humorous part is that they believe it’s the “other people” who are committing this hazard.

Only 29% of those polled said that they, themselves, do it, too.

From AAOS.ORG

Additionally, 4 out of 10 people say they have watched a distracted walking incident happen, and 26% of people admit to having been in a walking accident themselves.

Truthfully, this is no laughing matter. In fact, pedestrian deaths have risen 35% between 2008 and 2017.

The moral of hearing these shocking statistics—and I was shocked to hear them yesterday—is that we need to pay attention, people. We need to get our faces out of our phones.

How can you prevent an incident? Here are some quick tips compiled from aaos.org:

• Use your headphones responsibly. Don’t turn the volume up so high you can’t hear outside noise.
• If you need to talk on the phone or write a text, “pull yourself over” to do so.
• Pay attention to your surroundings as you walk.
• Avoid jaywalking (you should do this anyway, but here’s a reminder to do so).
• Look up. That’s it. Look up. Be aware.

So, be smart, my friends, and try not to become one of these statistics.