Distracted walking puts a lot of people at risk reports study in Seattle

BY Chris Sullivan  on December 13, 2012 @ 5:43 am (Updated: 8:34 am - 12/13/12 )

windy day pedestrian
The study found that nearly one in three were crossing the street while texting, talking or listening to music on their mobile devices. (AP Photo/File) | Zoom
A new University of Washington and Harborview study finds a lot of us are risking getting run-over by texting and walking.

The study looked at over a thousand pedestrians at Seattle's 20 most-dangerous intersections. It found that nearly one in three were crossing the street while texting, talking or listening to music on their mobile devices.

Only one in four actually looked both ways, obeyed the lights and crossed at the right spot.

The Seattle Times reports texters were four times more likely to cross without looking first.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that more an 1,100 people were injured around the nation last year because they were distracted by their mobile devices as they walked.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (6)


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  • sportsguru wrote...
    Kind of put into context
    December 13, 2012 6:55 am

    The old statement of "not being able to walk and chew bubble gum at the same time."

    I am surrounded by a nation of ADHD patients who have no clue how to multi-task professionally and/or personally.

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  • NW observer wrote...
    Survival of the least distracted
    December 13, 2012 7:08 am
    Sounds like Social Darwinism adds another dimension. Being constantly in contact for no good reason can be deadly.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WAmovesRight wrote...
    I smell a new law being cooked up in Olympia...
    December 13, 2012 8:41 am
    ... some phone nazi representative in Olympia is going to catch wind of this study and start championing a law forbidding cell phone usage by walking... in the name of public safety of course...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jeff Schroeder wrote...
    Ahhhh.... making more room
    December 13, 2012 10:20 am
    ...in the Gene pool. Thanks!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Pass a law requiring....
    December 13, 2012 10:58 am
    Australian style 'roo guards on the front of every vehicle. Problem solved!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Text me a river
    December 13, 2012 11:06 am
    I am not impressed (non phone owner) of peoples "apparent" connection to someone else "electronically" a texter or someone that has a phone screwed into their ear is the virtual Zombie. A texter can be as bad as a drunk(gasp) behind the wheel.WAKE UP.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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