Distractions from Mobile Devices, Headphones Threaten Teen Safety
This Your Health column first appeared in the Nov. 16 edition of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 17, 2014) — Every morning, parents send their children out the door with homework, lunch money and backpacks. But one item many teens are carrying today could seriously jeopardize their safety as they cross the streets.
Distractions caused by smart phones, headphones and other mobile devices are making walking more dangerous for all pedestrians, but a new report suggests teens are especially at risk. More than half of teens admit to crossing streets while distracted by a mobile device.
According to a recent Safe Kids International and FedEx survey, every hour, a teen pedestrian is injured or killed after being hit by a car in the United States. In a survey of 1,000 teens, 40 percent reported being hit or almost hit by a car, bike or motorcycle while walking. In 2012, 10,000 teens were injured in a pedestrian accident, and teens account for two-thirds of all child pedestrian fatalities in the country.
Most teens involved in incidents also reported using a mobile device, including a music player or cellphone, at the time they were hit or nearly hit. Twenty percent of teens were talking on the phone, 18 percent were texting and 47 percent were listening to the music at the time of the incident. As of September 2012, 78 percent of teens owned a cellphone and 37 percent owned a smartphone. Sixty-three percent of teens said almost everyone they know walks and texts at the same time. Additionally, pedestrian run-ins with vehicles can be attributed to risky crossing behaviors, such as running across the street or crossing in the middle of a block.
To prevent pedestrian accidents, parents and teens should discuss a few safety points:
- Take action against distraction. In 2012, 15-year-old Christina Morris-Ward was killed while crossing a street just two blocks from her high school. She was wearing headphones and looking at her phone when she was struck. In Christina's memory, many teens are taking the Moment of Silent Pledge and putting down their phones while walking and crossing the street. Talk to your children about making this important pledge.
- Review basic pedestrian safety rules. Stay on sidewalks and use crosswalks. If no sidewalks are available, walk facing traffic as far away from oncoming vehicles as possible.
- Instruct teens to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Pedestrians should also watch out for cars that are turning. If they won't they won't remove headphones while walking, advise them to turn down their music before crossing a street.
To review the Teens on the Move Survey produced by Safe Kids International, visit www.SafeKids.org.
Sherri Hannan is a registered nurse and the director of Safe Kids Fayette County based at UK HealthCare.