Looks Like We Have to Ban Walking and Texting

We hear a lot about distracted driving. So much, that many states have passed laws banning the use of handheld cellphones in the car, texting while driving, and more. So now, we move on to texting while walking? Yep.

Liz Neporent with ABC news has an interesting story called "OMG! Dn't Wlk n Txt!" that covers a study from the University of Queensland in Australia.

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia studied the movement patterns of 26 people as they walked normally and then as they walked with their eyes glued to the screen on their smart phones. When walkers were texting, they ambled more slowly. They moved their necks less, their heads more and hunched their shoulders forward. And big shocker (though not for people walking behind them) they also deviated from a straight path.

It probably should be pointed out that many people living in sub-zero windchill conditions around the U.S. have been walking that way, with or without a phone in their hands, just to keep from freezing their face off.

Anyhoo, back to the story:

Lead researcher, Siobhan Schabrun said that the way texters walk reminded her of elderly robots.

"They lock their arms, trunk and head together all in aid of keeping the phone steady in front of their eyes," she explained. "Previous studies on older populations shows that this type of more rigid posture puts you at greater risk of falling."

Even those who simply scanned the screen with their eyes were more likely to wander off in the wrong direction compared with someone who strolled hands free, the study found.

I'm sorry...elderly robots? Now I can't get the image of a Sun City-dwelling C3P0, staggering down a sidewalk with the "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!" robot from Lost in Space whilst updating his Facebook status. Yet again, I digress.

Okay, so we look goofy walking along staring at the screen on our mobile device. But, is it dangerous?

Schabrun said there is little data on how many people are injured while texting. However, one 2013 Ohio State University study noted that more than 1,500 people were treated in emergency rooms for cell phone-related incidents in 2012, up from just 559 clumsy texting incidences in 2004.

Schabrun said it was also interesting to note that 35 percent of her study's subjects reported having an accident while texting including trips, falls, collisions with other people and walking into an obstacle.

The biggest potential danger, Schabrun observed, occurs when people text or read messages in heavily trafficked areas or near train tracks.

"People think they are going in a straight line but they aren't," she pointed out.

She concludes by pointing out that you simply should not walk and text. However, if you cannot resist:

"But if you do need to text, move to one side, stop, then text," she advised. "When you are done you can continue walking."

You'll be safer, she said. And other pedestrians will thank you for it.

Unless they're an elderly robot. Then they'll just order you off their lawn.