Lesson learned from a unicycling clown: Cellphone distraction a problem for pedestrians as well as drivers
Much is said on the dangers of talking on a cellphone while driving, but what about using a cellphone while walking? A study conducted by researchers at Western Washington University suggests that cellphone use by pedestrians could pose a serious risk.
Researchers theorized that pedestrians talking on cellphones fall victim to what they call “inattentional blindness.” That is, they are completely oblivious to the events around them. While they may be looking at their surroundings, none of it is registering.
To test this theory, researchers brought in a clown riding a unicycle. The clown, a student named Dustin Randall, wore an outrageous polka dot costume complete with a red nose and pedaled his unicycle around a popular square on the university’s campus. After pedestrians crossed the square, researchers would stop them and ask if they noticed anything unusual.
The results were shocking: among pedestrians who were talking on cellphones only 8 percent spontaneously remembered the clown. Even when asked if they noticed the unicycling clown, only 25 percent of those on cellphones could recall him.
While the study seems comical at first blush, the upshot is anything but funny. It shows that pedestrians talking on cellphones are acutely unaware of their surroundings. This lack of awareness could lead to serious accidents, especially when walking near motor vehicles.
For more on this study, click here for the complete article.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you should seek the immediate advice of an experienced Texas personal injury attorney.
