Pedestrians and mobile phones create a dangerous combo on our roadside
Mobile phones have created a dangerous "age of distraction" for pedestrians - and drivers are not necessarily the ones to blame.
One in seven deaths on Australia's roads involves pedestrians with people under 30 being the most at risk stepping out on the street, a new study has found.
Preoccupied people simultaneously walking and texting – a symptom of the modern world – has created a deadly hazard for drivers with many pedestrians crossing the road without looking.
One in five people chat when they cross the street, one in four are looking at their screens and a startling one in three texts.
Dr Aelxia Lennon from Queensland University of Technology suggested sending alerts to mobile phones as people approached intersections and roadways might be necessary to avoid serious injuries.
"Even a minor bump can cause quite a serious injury for the pedestrian if you break you leg, break your arm or worse still, have a head injury," the psychology professor told 7 News.
"That is a very serious injury."
Other solutions include the "kiddie proofing" cities with padding on poles, placing overtly visible signs at roadsides or disabling phones entirely around crossings.
News break – November 17
