Like other places around the United States, a greater number of pedestrians in Winston-Salem wear headphones as they stroll to work and school. Many of us are aware that distracted driving can cause car accidents but so can distracted walking. According to a recent study, the number of serious injuries to pedestrians wearing headphones has increased dramatically in recent years.

According to research conducted by the University of Maryland, School of Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, serious injuries to pedestrians wearing headphones have more than tripled over the last six years. In the majority of cases, pedestrians wearing headphones have died from the injuries caused by the accident. In a significant number of the accidents, cars or trains sounded horns but the pedestrians did not recognize the warning sounds because of headphone use.

The study identified two problems that wearing headphones in a busy area can cause. The use of headphones while walking can cause environmental isolation where the sound from the headphones blocks the sound from the street. The second problem is inattentional blindness. Inattentional blindness is where the brain is too busy listening to music or operating the music player to be aware of danger on the street.

The lead author of the research initiated the study to draw attention to the issue and to start a conversation about the risk people face when they walk in traffic with headphones, especially young pedestrians. The majority of pedestrians struck while wearing headphones were under age 30.

Source: NPR, "Listen up walkers: Watch out for traffic when wearing headphones," Julie Rovner, Jan. 17, 2012