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Smartphone use has been cited as one of the causes of pedestrian deaths in the US.
According to a report by the US Governors Highway Safety Association, there were around 6,000 pedestrian deaths in the country in 2016, the highest number of fatalities recorded over 20 years. Richard Retting, author of the report, stated that other causes such as driving under the influence of alcohol and rise in the number of vehicles on the road may have contributed to the data. However, only smartphone use and wireless data access have significantly risen in recent years.
Since 2010, pedestrian deaths have increased to four times the number of all traffic-related fatalities.
Results of previous UK surveys also reveal that both pedestrians and drivers admit to using their smartphones while in transit. In addition, pedestrians have confessed to engaging in smartphone activities, such as text messaging, watching videos, playing games, and browsing the Internet while crossing the street. On the other hand, drivers admitted that they occasionally take photos and access social media while driving.
Smartphone use is also recognized globally as a major factor that causes road accidents, evoking innovative actions from government officials and private companies. One of the first initiatives is the “smartphone walking lanes,” which were implemented in countries such as the United States and China. Another is Germany’s ground-level traffic lights, which alert people fixated on their phones. Automobile manufacturers have also invented new models that can track the driver’s eye and head movement and prevent collision with other vehicles.