More and more people in the U.S. are becoming addicted to their cellphones. They walk, cross the street and drive their cars while their eyes are glued to their mobile phones, putting their lives, and the lives of others, at risk, according to The Washington Post.
Dr. Alan S. Hilibrand, vice chairman of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said people have been rushed to the emergency room after being hit by cars while crossing the street and looking at their phones. He called them "digital deadwalkers" - those who walk around seemingly oblivious to their surroundings while staying fixated on their cellphone screens.
In 2005, 256 pedestrians were reported injured while using their cellphones. In 2010, that number increased six-fold, according to The Washington Post.
A recent survey on cellphone etiquette conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that 77 percent of Americans believe using a cellphone while walking along the street is OK. The survey also showed that 75 percent of mobile phone users think using their phones in public transportation is acceptable.
In April, the National Safety Council (NSC) conducted a survey about cellphone addiction. NSC found that eight in 10 Americans believe that cellphones are addictive. This addiction, NSC said, can lead to death especially when driving.
"Our addiction is relatively harmless when we're using our phones to talk or surf the web from our couches. But when we're behind the wheel, our addiction can be lethal," Deborah Hersman, CEO of the NSC, wrote on the Huffington Post.
However, even if people are aware of the danger of using their phones for calling or texting while driving, the knowledge does not seem to stop them from doing it. In 2013, 3,154 people died and 424,000 were hurt or injured from calling or texting while driving, according to The Washington Post.
The same seems to hold true for those who use their phones while walking; they do so even if they are aware of the risks.
"Some data suggests that at any given moment on the streets of America, 60 percent of pedestrians are distracted while walking, meaning either on the phone or doing something on their phone," Hilibrand said. "It's a bit of a startling number."
Hersman has one explanation for this: "Because our addiction tells us we can."
"We need to dispel the myth of multitasking," she said. "Many of us think the key to having it all is doing it all - at the same time, without missing a beat. In reality, when we try to multitask we are virtually assured of missing something."
