The Dangers of Distracted Walking

STATES CHRONICLE – Most, if not all people living in civilized countries can agree on the dangers of distracted driving. This is why we have so many laws in place. One small distraction from a driver and multiple lives are at risk of ending or being completely overturned within seconds. And most of the world agrees with that. What most people don’t agree with, though, is how dangerous it is to walk while distracted. Read on to find out more about the dangers of distracted walking.

The results of a poll recently published by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and Ipsos Public Affairs show that, indeed, the majority of Americans agree on the fact that distracted walking is a serious issue. What they don’t seem to be agreeing on, however, is whether they partake in the dangerous walking habits or not.

The statistics resulted from the poll are quite interesting, not only from a sociological point of view (as they show how people see themselves in relation to others), but also from a psychological one (as they show how people see themselves as right, and how they blame others instead of themselves).

According to the study, 78% of the interviewed people agreed that distracted walking is indeed a serious issue, however only 43% agreed that it can lead to serious injuries and 74% said that distracted driving is more serious than distracted walking.

This is where the study begins to get interesting, as it shows how even though the majority of people agree that an issue is serious, a far less percentage actually agree that it is also dangerous. It is also where we’ll come to see that if someone is doing something they’re embarrassed about, they’re less likely to admit to how wrong that something is.

I say that because while only 28% admit to partake in the somewhat hazardous conduct, a whopping 85% claim that they observed others walking while distracted. The even bigger dissonance comes in when 37% admit to walking and talking on the phone, while 90% of those interviewed claimed that they watched others doing it.

This is very easy to explain from a psychological and even sociological standpoint, as, like I said before, if someone is to engage in a behavior that is viewed as wrong, they will most likely not admit it, and they will most certainly downplay its importance so that they don’t feel as bad about it.

The scientists behind the study do give some advice regarding the correct way to walk in order to avoid potentially dangerous situations, however anyone with the slightest bit of common sense should be aware of their advice, as it is simple, basic pedestrian conduct, and basically state ‘watch where you’re going!’.

Image source: Wikimedia