Distracted Texting Takes Rising Toll of Unwary Pedestrians.

Texting while walking or driving is a relatively new item on America’s health horizon. A few years ago such concern would have seemed pettifogging and strictly the provenance of worry warts. But today, it’s a major concern throughout the country — especially in larger metropolitan areas. Should distracted walking (i.e. walking while texting) be considered dangerous and thus be made illegal? Some cities have already decided it is serious enough to ban, with stiff fines for even the first infraction — such as Rexburg, Idaho, and sunny Honolulu. And there statistics backing up the concern. Last year, reports several prominent newspapers, pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. reached a high point not seen in nearly thirty years. The main of pedestrian casualties was the bigger utility vehicles now being driven . . . and distracted drivers who were too busy texting, or, in some cases, even playing games on their phones, to pay attention to what was in front of them. 

Modern communication technology has spawned the smartphone, which in turn has spawned smartphone addiction in some people. Those who have demanding, deadline-driven careers may need to be on the phone all the time — but those who find they just can’t live without knowing the current temperature, how their favorite team is doing, and checking for likes on Facebook, are now considered to be clinically addicted; they are the ones most likely to become victims of distracted texting or driving.