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Cell Phones Pose Threat to Child Pedestrians, Study Says
Next time you find yourself behind the wheel, watch out. There are slow reacting children out there, and they may just wander right in front of your car. According to a Reuters report, they are preoccupied with their cell phones and not paying attention to your 2000-pound monstrosity, so please, uh, look out for them.
A recent study found that children using cell phones are 43-percent more likely to be hit by a vehicle while crossing the street than are children who are not using cell phones. The study, conducted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, focused on 77 children, ages 10 to 11. The children were asked to cross a virtual road six times while speaking on a cell phone, and then six more times without doing so. Partially explaining the heightened risk, the children, while talking on their phones, forgot to look both ways 20 percent of the time.
We know that you probably pay attention while you are driving. We're just asking that you not expect the same level of concentration from pedestrians. [From: Reuters.com]
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Comments
26
Subscribe to commentsboJan 27th 2009 7:28AM
why do 10 year kids need a cell phone? We dont even know if they cause brain damage or not yet. They have not been around long enought. My kid will get one , but not untill she is 15.
busybyrdJan 27th 2009 10:16AM
Why pray tell does a 10-11 year old need a cell phone????? They should not be placed in a situation where they need it for emergencies anyway!
JuliJan 27th 2009 9:32AM
I could have told you this blindfolded.
RDJan 27th 2009 9:56AM
I'd like to see someone do a study on how many lives of children have been saved having access to a cell phone. I consider it a matter of safety nowadays with abductions, rapes and general violent crimes in general on the rise. It would be interesting to see those statistics.
DavJan 27th 2009 10:05AM
Free phones for everyone. Let Darwin theory's prevail!
BillyJan 27th 2009 10:41AM
RD @ Jan 27th 2009 9:56AM
I'd like to see someone do a study on how many lives of children have been saved having access to a cell phone. I consider it a matter of safety nowadays with abductions, rapes and general violent crimes in general on the rise. It would be interesting to see those statistics
.....................................nowadays are no different than the days in the 20s, 30s an on an on............As for abductions,rapes and general violent crimes. The only different from then and now is every one knows about it. Which means doing those crimes back in the days was eazier, in which means was done alot more than now. It just show why we are in the mess we are, want , want , want.
LeroyJan 27th 2009 11:00AM
Much more dangerous than kids on cell phones walking..........are people of ALL ages driving with the phone either to their ear, or in their laps texting someone..........I drive through Anniston Alabama almost daily, and almost daily I see a wreck, or a near miss because someone is phoning.........almost everyone I work with has either been hit by a phoning driver, or has hit another vehicle while phoning.......And "hands free" is no better, they still have the reaction time of somebody too intoxicated to drive.
MichelleJan 27th 2009 11:17AM
I agree with you Leroy, as I have also witnessed many of accidents caused by people to busy talking on cell phones rather than doing the "full time requiremnts" of driving a vehicle down the road properly. As for a 10 or 11 year old kid having a cell phone due to emergency actions; why are they somewhere that they should need that? Their parents should be with them where ever they ar at that age if they are not right in the immediate neighbor hood playing with friends. No, kids that age do not need that kind of distraction from what is going on around them, as they do not pay attention. A cell phone in case of being abducted? Are you kidding me? Do you really think they will have the opportunity to use it? No, kids that age need to keep their minds and eyes on everything that is going on about them, in order to stay safe and sound, not be impaired by a cell phone.
KerrieJan 27th 2009 11:46AM
Yes, Yes and Yes
1. It is definately a safety hazard of children using cells crossing street...1 month ago, 16 y/o girl died in Palm Beach area w/Mom, Sis and Grampa watching. She was talking on cell going across street to Grampa's car. Sister was screaming frantically while she talked on phone and did not hear her. Got hit by not 1, but 3 cars.
2. If used properly, w/parent controls, they can be an asset to kids.
3. Talking on phones and texting while driving is definately a hazzard...at least for most. Should be mandated to have handsfree if they are going to use cell in car.
FrankJan 27th 2009 11:48AM
RD: "I'd like to see someone do a study on how many lives of children have been saved having access to a cell phone. I consider it a matter of safety nowadays with abductions, rapes and general violent crimes in general on the rise. It would be interesting to see those statistics". -_-_- I'd like to see that as well, considering that crime has been down overall, and most of the people in our prisons are nonviolent drug offenders. Violent crime seems to be chronic these days, but that's because it's the news broadcasters favorite kind of coverage. My ex-wife tried to sell me on that safety concept when cell phones first came out. Never mind that she was a stay at home mom who didn't do much driving beyond the grocery store and her mother's home. Face it. Most cell phone calls are empty headed banalities which aren't worth the electrons used making them. As a matter of fact, one of the best means to avoid most of the attacks and accidents that happen to people is to be aware of your surroundings, and that's kind of hard to do if you're babbling away at BFF over clothing decisions or what someone is watching on TV.
JamesJan 27th 2009 11:54AM
It has been proven that using a cell phone while driving is just as bad if not worst than driving while being intoxicated.
Why in hell doesn't our no good legisatures pass a federal law banning the use of cell phone while driving.
I would supect it,s because of the lobbist hired by the phone companies and the contributions funneled to the legslature's.
VickieJan 27th 2009 1:29PM
Why does the government have to always be called upon to help us do what we should know is right? We should stop calling on the government's involvement all the time...what happens when the government decides that we shouldnt be a Christian or a Muslim because they dont agree with it? What happens when the government decides to get involved in everything because we keep asking them to and they tell you what you can or can not listen to or watch? Unfortunately not everyone is going to make good decisions and as a result someone is going to get hurt. But let's not keep asking the government to take control of our lives, at one point we may not like what they are telling us to do or not to do. Stop trying to hand over our rights and our decision making on every little thing to the government. Let's try and think for ourselves and do what we're supposed to do; and realize that not everyone is going to, and that's part of life.
KatJan 27th 2009 11:58AM
Why on the planet earth does a 10-11 year old child need to be yakking away on a cell phone? THE only reason the kid should use one is to touch base with mom or dad. When driving down a street that passes our high school, you can't go more than 5 mph due to the little darlings gabbing or texting away as they cross the street without looking AT ALL! I've come close to making a few of them "hood ornaments". I just thank God I have quick reflexes. When are we going to be reading about cancer risks due to cell usage and not just acne caused by dirty phones? By the way, the easiest way to clean a cell phone is to use a small alcohol-soaked tissue in a package used normally to clean your glasses-with the cell turned off. I began using them on my daughter's phone and no more break-outs! There are laws banning cell usage unless you have a Bluetooth or similar hands-free device, but only about 25% of the drivers I see are using them; you know, the ones who look like they're talking to themselves? No texting is included in those laws. NOW we have stereo units that show DVD's while the vehicles are being driven-yet another distraction! How could we possibly survive without these devilish devices?
BrendaJan 27th 2009 12:39PM
I drive a school bus, and my stop sign is ran 9 out of 10 times from people on a cell phone. I was in my car, and a lady hit me, she was talking on a cell phone. Take cell phone from everyone not just kids ! You have to watch the ones who talk and drive all the time !
BrianJan 27th 2009 1:05PM
Amen. A new form of population control created by the human race.
steveJan 27th 2009 12:40PM
The new "natural" selection. . .too stupid to survive. . .you die.
Charter Wells, JrJan 27th 2009 12:44PM
Just yesterday, I had to sound my horn loudly to get the attention of a teenager walking in the middle of our street [we have no sidewalk]. Even then I had to brake hard to avoid him.
Kids using cell phones are but a part of the cell phone addiction. Most hazardous are those drivers of all ages who use cell phones, both hand held and hands free, while driving.
We have laws prohibiting such practices, but those laws are seldom, if ever, enforced.
krillsJan 27th 2009 12:47PM
Actually the kids should be watching out for the car... not the other way around... Car vs human... car wins
and why the hell does a 10 year old need a cell phone?... half the fun of being a kid is riding your bike all the way across town to a friends house... just to find out they're not home lol
AnthonyJan 27th 2009 1:31PM
Kids don't look both ways anyway.
KenJan 27th 2009 1:05PM
When I was a kid my mother always told me cars hurt, so watch out for them. Now they give stupid pedestrians the right of way over cars.
They walk right out in front of you and they aren't even looking.