Cell phone accidents and danger
Cell phone accidents due to distraction while talking, walking and especially driving are increasing.
There’s increasing evidence that walking while using your phone to talk, text, tweet and surf is dangerous.
While some users are worried about the RF produced by phones and brain cancer, you’re more likely to get hurt through common use.
A recent New York Times article refers to the situation as “distracted walking.” Teen phone accidents, in particular, are related to using cells while making phone calls or texting.
The brain becomes distracted, making it more likely those on their mobles ignore red lights and oncoming traffic.
Accidents requiring an emergency room visit rose to 2,000 in 2008, double that of 2007. As more people become engaged by smartphone apps, walking from point A to point B becomes more hazardous while iPhone and other mobile users multi-task.
Cell phone accidents related to driving are also on the rise. California and other states have banned the use of the devices for calling while driving. Other states have enacted laws prohibiting texting as well. Related accidents and driving statistics are conclusive that cells distract drivers.
Children walking to school while on using a phone are particularly prone to accidents, according to researchers at the University of Alabama.
Another study from the University of Illinois concluded that using your mobile while talking and walking resulted in more accidents than people walking while listening to an iPod or MP3 player.
Apparently music while walking is less of a mobile phone danger than talking.
The increase in phone users, per one study, may be the culprit, similar to any other human behavior. In other words, increased smoking raises lung cancer cases; more tennis players boost tennis elbow cases and crowded metro areas raise street crime.
Some cognitive researchers refer to the phenomenon as “inattentional blindness.” It’s mobile phone effects on people who are doing a natural activity–walking–while their brains are thinking and reacting to conversations.
This differs from listening to music while walking which is a non-interactive behavior. Walkers aren’t conversing with their favorite singer or musician. They’re just listening.
So while many people worry about other mobile related dangers–such as getting cancer–walking, talking, texting and surfing with a wireless phone is a greater danger.
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