Distracted Walking
A video that recently went viral shows a young woman texting while walking in a mall in Reading, PA. She’s so distracted that she falls into a fountain. Most people who see this video think it’s funny. But there’s nothing funny about the consequences of putting oneself or others in danger.
On January 25, the NY Times reported on the latest concerns about pedestrians who are distracted by iPods and cell phones while crossing the street. Some states are considering legislation that would restrict the use of cell phones and iPods while running or walking along the sidewalk or street. Regardless of how we feel about distracted walking or running, as a Delaware attorney I hope we all recognize how dangerous it can be to drive while you’re distracted. An Illinois Court recently awarded $8 million to the parents of 2 teenage girls who were killed in a head-on car crash involving a state trooper. The evidence showed that the cop was speeding at 126 miles per hour, talking on his cell phone to his girlfriend, and sending emails on his in-dash computer.
There’s a whole lot of information out there about this topic. Here are some links:
U.S. Department of Transportation
OSHA’s website has a section dedicated to distracted driving
Governors’ Highway Safety Association
Oprah has started a no texting while driving campaign
