A recent article in the Chicago Tribune describes the city sidewalk scene as one where people are narrowly avoiding or bumping into one another on a regular basis because everyone’s heads seem to be in their phones.
Today’s society is glued to their cell phones more than ever. We can connect with one another, send that work email or post that photo to Facebook all from our smartphones, but when are eyes are on our phones, they aren’t paying attention to the world around us. When you’re sitting idly on a bus that’s no big deal, but if you’re walking on a busy sidewalk or trying to cross an intersection that can be dangerous and even deadly.
“When you’re texting, you’re not as in control of the complex actions of walking,” said one doctor interviewed for the article.
This sentiment is also the reason we published our tips for avoiding injuries while playing Pokemon Go!
Digital Deadwalking
The article also makes mention of the campaign the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons launched last year called “Digital Deadwalking.” As a member of the Communications Cabinet for the AAOS, I want to share the PSA video they put together last year to talk about the dangers of texting and walking. You can see the video below.
The AAOS conducted a poll and uncovered that nearly 80 percent of US adults believe “distracted walking” is a serious issue, but only 29 percent admitted to the activity themselves. If you’ve been on a sidewalk or at the park lately, it sure seems that more than 3 in 10 people are at least somewhat distracted by their phones.
The article concludes by saying there is no crazy formula for helping people kick the habit of walking while distracted by their cell phone. In reality, it only takes two steps. Put your phone in your pocket, and go on with your life.