Distracted walking is becoming a huge problem to society. Many people are harmed or killed, and solutions in the past were not enough. The numbers are on the rise, and banning distracted walking entirely is the best solution. Walking while texting is not just annoying, it can be disastrous. A study shows that people who text and walk are four times more likely to jaywalk or not look both ways before crossing the street.(New York Times) This means that while increasing amounts of people are focusing on technology, more people will be getting into these dangerous situations. “Since 2010, injuries caused by cellphone distraction in the U.S. have risen by 23% according to the PewTrust’s Stateline,” (Fast Company). The numbers have been rising over the years, and injuries/fatalities by texting while walking are becoming more common. We need to stop this danger in our communities. …show more content…
Previous solutions were not enough, and pedestrian deaths stayed consistent. Rexburg, Idaho might have been one of the first to put a citywide ban on texting while walking, in 2011. None of the almost 35,000 residents have had a pedestrian fatality(death) since the ban was initiated. (New York Times) This would be just as effective if this was implemented worldwide. Many places have decided to add more paths and traffic-calming measures to make streets safer. (NSC) This, however, did not help, as there are still deaths happening. Ultimately, we need to take more steps in the direction of banning the distracted walking,instead of what we’ve been
Distracted walking is not that big of a deal. Many people would just ignore the law, like how you can’t be on your phone while driving-which people do all the time. The driver also needs to be aware on who is crossing the street. It’s not just a one person job, and its common sense to look before you cross the street . In the article, “Would You Ban Texting and Walking,” under column “A Big Deal?” it says, “Distracted walking may not seem like a big deal. After all, you’re just glancing at you phone for a moment, right?” Also under column “Common Sense,” the text states, “ Some say we shouldn’t need a law for something that boils down common
People who text and drive can hit or even kill pedestrians because of being distracted by their phones and not paying attention to the road. In the course of five years, the national number of pedestrians who were killed or hit by distracted drivers increased from 344 to 500 people. If you think about it, many of those people who died could have been young children or elderly people who didn’t have a fault, but because of someone being so inconsiderate using their phone, they killed these people. In 2015, 5,376 pedestrians were killed because of drivers who were too busy texting. All those pedestrians who were killed did not think that because of walking somewhere they would be killed by someone so distracted who didn’t have the capacity to make sure that the road was clear for them to keep driving. If this problem had further consequences, then many of the people who died wouldn’t be dead right now.
According to Ashley Gaddis from Counterpoint, “From 1999 to 2008, nearly fifty-two thousand people were killed in car crashes caused by distracted drivers” (n.pag.). Distracted driving started when technology became mobile and handheld. Many people have died and gotten injured from people not paying attention to the road. This problem has been growing as technology advances. Distracted driving is a big problem and there needs to be stronger penalties and laws in place to deter people from distracted driving.
I highly encourage you to expand the narrow sidewalk running from 3rd Ave. /W. Century Blvd. to 5th Ave./ West Century Blvd. The sidewalk poses a serious threat to walking pedestrians that use the sidewalk to commute everyday to access the shops down at Crenshaw Blvd./ W. Century Blvd. and other little businesses up the street from S. Van Ness Ave./ W. Century
Xiomara, I agree with your analysis about this topic; it isn't an everyone once in a while problem, it's an everyday problem. Everyone around the world is basically committing suicide over a message or call that could wait an hour or less. Likewise, many do not realize that they can easily pull over and read the message or make the call; but they do not. We are obviously in a very faced paced society, and it doesn't stop, even if it means your life. "Texting And Distracted Driving Infograaphic" reports that "77% of young adults are confident when texting and driving," this number is absolutely alarming. As a result, this essay is what stood out among the others in this week's readings. It is terrifying to realize that I could start to walk
As the article says “We tend to walk more slowly or zigzag while using a phone.” A law that would not allow people to use their phones while walking can decrease the amount of people who get injured. Another quote is “In 2014 a 14-year-old was seriously injured after stepping off a bridge.” Texting while walking is very dangerous because “in 2012 a 15-year-old was hit by a car and killed.” So texting while walking should be a law in the United States.
Distracted driving is a well established problem, so much so that many states currently have bans in place when it comes to using technology while driving. But the problem of distracted walking is a relatively new one. Each year, more and more people are injured as a result of texting, talking or listening to music while on their cell phones. And while we might laugh at the woman who falls into the fountain while texting, or the man who walks into a wall while texting, the problem of distracted walking is a very real and serious one. by distracted walking has risen and it will definitely be
I have texted while walking before, but it is uncommon for me. When I do I make sure to know my surroundings, and look both ways before I cross the street. I have been distracted before and put myself in danger. For example I was riding my bike and got distracted; as a result I almost got hit by a truck. People will always be distracted though by anything. We just need safer rules. We would also have to pay more to make the surroundings safer. A law banning text while walking is not needed because people will always be distracted by something in the world it will happen simultaneously.
One reason why texting and walking should be banned is because it’s causing serious accidents. In Kristin Lewis’s article, “Would You Ban Texting and Walking?”, it states on page 10 that “Between 2000 an 20011, distracted walking led to more than 11,000 injuries in the U.S*”. This shows that in these past few years, texting and walking has caused various injuries. This is one reason
With a ban on distracted walking, there would be a major decline of pedestrian fatalities and injuries. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, “there were 5,987 pedestrian fatalities in 2016 — the highest number since 1990 and a 9 percent increase over 2015.” I believe that if there was a law against texting and walking, those terrifyingly large numbers will shrink. Scholastic Scope’s Would you Ban
Have you ever walked with your phone in a occupied street and some said lights red towards you? A law banning texting while walking is need because people need to be fewer distracted pedestrians so their is less death. There's so many interesting things on earth but our brains can only handle one thing at a time, there has been about 1200 deaths by walking and texting from distracted pedestrians since 2 years ago just imagen how many have been killed this year,some states are beginning to ban texting and walking hawaii was the first to ban it. The opponent has to go make a light on the ground for people to walk but that's a waste of money when they already have a light to tell them to go they need to look up to see it and if they do
Many people each year die or get injured because of distracted walking. Its sad that walking has become a bad idea. But there are ways to help stop it. People could ban it. ¨According to Take steps To Avoid Injury While Walking,¨ ¨It has risen nine percent since 2015.¨ Since smartphones more people are able to walk with their phones out and talk but this is leading to more deaths.¨According to Distraction, on street and sidewalk, Help Cause Record Pedestrian deaths,” “Drivers distracted by their devices are a well documented, rising cause in traffic,” This can not help the people who are distracted because people already die enough of this but if others start to walk distracted. The same article says, “ deaths overall went up six percent nationwide in 2016.” Each year more people die of distracted walking. It is a bad issue and needs to be put to a stop.
When you think of a phone being a serious source of distraction, you think of distracted driving. In the search to eliminate injuries due to distracted walking, the Hawaiian city of Honolulu has decided to charge people up to $99 for using their phones for entertainment purposes while they are walking. According to the article, “No person shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device.” The only exceptions to the new law are for emergencies, phone calls, or for music. The regulation was proposed by city councilman Brandon Elefante. The idea of fining people who use their phones while walking originated in 2016 when the state of New Jersey was considering fines up to $50 or even more than two weeks of jail time. Even cities in different
A pedestrian is at-risk while texting and walking near an intersection. Sadly, nearly 2,500 pedestrians killed while texting and walking (Horn, 2016). The NHTSA stated that approximately 73 percent of traffic crashes with the pedestrian usually occur at night. The fatality rate is steadily spiking up across the nation in pedestrian being distracted while walking (Horn, 2016). Certainly, a person being distracted while walking and texting is a dangerous combination.
You hop in your car and start driving when you see someone texting and walking right in the middle of the road. You quickly step on the brakes. Phew! That was close. People shouldn’t be able to use their phones while walking. It causes a threat because people could crash into something, there have been many injuries caused by walking and texting, and people might be focusing on their phone too much and go the wrong way. Walking and texting needs to stop and people can work to achieve it.