A new study conducted by researchers from the Ohio State University states that more than 1,500 pedestrians on phones required emergency treatment and this number has doubled from 2005.
Researchers of a new study conducted by the Ohio State University found that talking on cell phones is not only dangerous for drivers but pedestrians as well. A total of 1,500 pedestrians on phones required emergency treatment in 2010 and this number was double than the number reported in 2005.
However, the number of injuries among pedestrians on phones decreased by quite a bit during the same period, researches of the study revealed in a press release. The contradicting statements have led authors of the study to speculate that the total number of injured pedestrians on phones is significantly higher than reported.
With the way things are going, Jack Nasar, co-author of the study and professor of city and regional planning at The Ohio State University says he won't be surprised if this number doubles between 2010 and 2015. He reveals that while deaths caused due to the use of cell phones while driving has garnered a lot of attention, the study wants to make people aware of the dangers of using cell phones while walking as well.
Researchers found that people aged between 16 and 25 were most likely to get injured in this manner and maximum injuries were caused when the pedestrian was talking on the phone rather than texting.
For the study, data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a database maintained by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) was used wherein authors of the study analyzed data for seven years (from 2004 to 2010) involving injuries related to cell phone use for pedestrians in public areas. Findings from the study revealed that approximately 559 pedestrians required emergency treatment from injuries sustained while talking on the phone in 2004. The following year, the number dropped to 256 but has been on a dramatic climb ever since. However in the total number of pedestrians that were treated in emergency rooms in 2010 (41,000) was far lesser than the 97,000 pedestrians reported to be treated in emergency rooms in 2004
Nasar also compared CPSC estimates for injuries related to drivers distracted by cell phones with actual data from emergency rooms across the country and found that the data from emergency rooms across the country was 1,300 times higher than CPSC national estimates. Nasar suggests that if such is the case with injuries related to pedestrian distracted by cell phones, there actually might have been 2 million pedestrian injured due to cell phone distractions in 2010 and this problem is likely to get worse.
"As more people get cell phones and spend more time using them, the number of injuries is likely to increase as well. Now people are playing games and using social media on their phones too," concludes the author.
