harmonise to a late field of study [ PDF ] by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and polling business firm Ipsos Public Affairs , 78 percent of U.S. adults believe distracted walk behaviors like talking on the phone , listen to music , or texting while walking are a “ serious issue . ” But only 29 pct admit to walk while unhinge themselves . It ’s easier to pick up on the distracted behaviors of others , it seems , than to notice them in ourselves — the discipline also found that 74 pct of the the great unwashed surveyed believed “ other people ” were the ones with the distraction problem .

Whether or not you ’re what the AAOS calls a “ digital deadwalker”—someone too plugged into their mobile equipment to notice their surroundings — the AAOS encourages people to bear more attention to what they ’re doing as they walk . While most unseasoned people are springy enough to spring back after bumping into someone , older people can suffer real injuries from a hit , and the AAOS sketch notice that woman age 55 and over were most likely to be seriously injure after a distracted walking incident .

While it seems the AAOS is in the first place interested in discouraging distracted walking ( they go so far as to suggest step to the side of the street if you want to talk at all ) , the subject field also dug up some interesting stats on regional pedestrian habit . New York City , it seems , is most probable to see distracted walk as a serious military issue , while Seattle residents are the most cavalier about the government issue . New Yorkers are also , ostensibly , the most likely to own up to being distracted walkers themselves .

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The AAOS recognize that distracted walk might not voice like a real problem — and , in fact , many of the people surveyed thought the issue was “ fishy ” or just “ block in a silly way”—but they claim there can be real dangers involved . " The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons pep up pedestrians to avoid musculoskeletal and other injuries by engage with their environs — driver , rockers , other Alice Walker and obstacles , " Alan Hilibrand , orthopaedic operating surgeon   and   AAOS spokespersonexplained . " Many of us only require to force ourselves to set down our twist and focus on what ’s in front of and around us . This will check that we safely get in at our finish , during this engaged vacation time of year and throughout the twelvemonth . "

[ h / t : Eureka Alert ! ]