Pedestrian Accidents Involving Headphones Have Increased

Many people today like a soundtrack when they walk, using their smart phones and MP3 players to shut out the noise of trucks, buses, and cars. While this might make walks more enjoyable, it can also make them much more dangerous, according to a new study.

A report published by Injury Prevention found that the number of serious injuries and deaths among pedestrians in the United States who were walking with headphones has tripled in the past seven years. Here are the other findings of the research:

• There were 116 cases from 2004 – 2011.
• Approximately 70 percent of the collisions were fatal.
• Half of the victims were struck by trains.
• In about one-third of all accidents, eyewitnesses said that horns or sirens sounded before the victim was hit.
• Most accidents involved men younger than 30.

Prior studies have found that pedestrians are less cautious and more likely to engage in dangerous “crossing behavior” while wearing headphones or talking on cell phones.