Phone-using Pedestrians More Likely to be Hit by Cars: Study

November 25, 2009

Illinois, Kentucky - A new study shows that using cell phones are not only dangerous to drivers but also to pedestrians who were found to be more likely to be hit by cars compared to walkers who are not using phones.

In a study, a team of researchers from the University of Illinois asked participants from different age groups to cross a virtual street with passing cars and other obstacles. The experts then measured the participants’ response time while crossing the street.

According to result, participants listening to music almost perform the same as walkers who were not using any device. However, those who were talking on their cell phones were found to take 25 percent longer to cross the street compared to undistracted pedestrians.

The risk of using phones while walking in streets was found to be higher among people aged 60 years and older who have lower response time compared to younger individuals.

The study shows that older people are 15 percent more likely to be hit by cars compared to undistracted young adults.

Psychology professor Art Kramer, one of the researchers of the study, said that “many people assume that walking is automatic, making them so confident that they can do anything while doing this.”

“However, this study only shows that using cell phones can significantly reduce the responsiveness of walkers, making them vulnerable to street accidents especially if there are lots of obstacles”, Kramer said.