Distracted Walking: What We Know and Data Needs

Pedestrians, much like drivers, have always been engaged in multi-tasking like using hand-held devices, listening to music, snacking, or reading while walking. The effects are similar to those experienced by distracted drivers. However, distracted walking has not received similar policies and effective interventions to improve safety as distracted driving. This study reviewed the state-of-practice on policies, programs, data sources for current studies, and identified data collection opportunities and research needs pertaining to distracted walking Agencies and organizations have been very informative on proper safety walking measures that can be taken to improve safety. Various rules/tips have been given such as do not wear headphones or talk on a cell phone while crossing, keeping the volume down, hanging up the phone while walking, being aware of traffic, avoid distractions such as walking and texting. The majority of studies reviewed are in agreement that there is positive correlation between distraction and unsafe walking behavior. A survey-based study indicated that 25% of the respondents indicated that they believed listening to music while crossing the street was dangerous and unsafe behavior. Additionally, this study found that in the United States, five states namely Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, New York, and Utah have failed to pass distracted walking legislations. For the four most recent years of data the study found 23 fatal crashes that has portable electronic device as a person related factor thus implying that with the current system data pertaining to distracted walking can be queried.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ANF10 Pedestrians.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • White, Jamario
  • Mwakalonge, Judith L
  • Siuhi, Saidi
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Distraction; Pedestrian safety; Policy; Safety programs; Walking
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; I10: Economics and Administration; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01506397
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-0038
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 3 2014 9:18AM