Dangers of texting while walking for pedestrian safety
回复留言, checking social media: The simple action of texting and walking equals distracted walking. The dangers are real, but t在这里 are steps to take to minimize your risk.
YouTube is brimming with videos of people using their smartphones as they accidentally walk into walls, 从台阶上摔下来或者跳进喷泉里. 我们笑, knowing those incidents of texting and walking typically result in little more than bruised egos.
不幸的是，情况并非总是如此. 行人在交通事故中死亡 自2009年以来最高, and distracted walking is likely partially to blame. 在短短10年里，已经有超过51,000个 行人死亡，增长了53%.
If you're looking down at your phone, you're less able to see what's happening around you. The dangers of texting while walking include missing a light that changes or a car that shifts direction, 导致手机行人事故. 除了, 如果有人边走边发短信, they may be less likely to obey guidance measures such as staying within the pedestrian crosswalk lines.
行走分心法
The problem is becoming so pervasive that legislators in many U.S. states and cities are working on texting and walking bans. Honolulu was the first major city to enact such a law, which allows fines up to $35 for pedestrians who use their phones while crossing streets. Several other smaller municipalities have followed suit. 爱达荷州, 爱达荷州, specifically outlawed texting while crossing the street, 在蒙特克莱尔, 加州, enacted a law banning crossing the street while viewing any electronic device.
Some European cities are trying a different approach to reduce texting while walking deaths. 在繁忙十字路口的人行横道上, they are working to install lighted strips that change colors with the traffic lights to alert heads-down pedestrians when they can safely cross.
分心行走安全提示
Protect yourself from a texting while walking injury by following these 行人安全提示:
- 远离手机. 问问自己是否可以等一等. 很有可能，它可以.
- 停止行走. If you urgently need to use the phone, find a safe place to step aside. 在继续散步之前，完成你的电话或短信.
- 提前准备. If you know you want to listen to music or a book during your walk, 在你移动之前把播放列表排好.
- 查找. If you absolutely must take a peek at your phone while you're walking, hold it higher in your visual field instead of looking down.
- 遵守法律. Cross only at crosswalks whenever possible, and obey all traffic signals.
- 注意. 经常评估你周围的环境, 在过马路之前, make eye contact with drivers so you know you've seen each other.
- 使用有用的技术. Consider software that reads messages aloud and enables voice-to-text typing so you can keep your head up and hands free.
- 调低音量. Keep your phone's volume to a reasonable level so you can hear what's happening around you. Noise-canceling headphones are a definite no-no when walking.
最后, 当你在开车的时候，想想走路分心. Be particularly careful when backing up and as you enter busy intersections. Paying attention to pedestrians who aren't could save both of your lives.
