PLZ Don't TXT and Walk

A new study from the University of Buffalo has determined texting while walking is more dangerous than texting and driving. Researchers found there are more injuries to texting pedestrians per kilometer than there are to texting motorists.

According to the study, distracted walkers are likely to bump into walls and other people, walk into cars, fall over things in the street even fall into holes or down stairs. More than 6,000 people visited his hospital last year because they were injured while texting.

Staff Senator Renee Witherspoon, with Safety Services, said there have been at least two near accidents involving texting pedestrians and cars on the TTUHSC Lubbock campus.

Safety Services and the Staff Senate encourage employees and students to be more careful when crossing 5th Street from the A-3 and D-3 parking lots.

“Pay attention when crossing the road,” Witherspoon said. “If people are not in a designated crosswalk, then they do not have the right of way according to state law. There is a Texas Tech policy that asks vehicles to yield to pedestrians, but that doesn’t always happen.”

Increased pedestrian traffic and people popping out in front of moving cars is a hazard, Witherspoon said. Large vehicles obscure pedestrian traffic, and coupled with a speeding car and/or a texting pedestrian, someone could get seriously injured.

Walking while texting is not a violation of state law. And according to the Texas Tech Police Department, jaywalking usually isn’t enforced. However, speeding in the TTUHSC parking lot is a class C misdemeanor and carries a fine up to $500.

Witherspoon said the best way to prevent parking lot injuries is to stop, listen and look when crossing the street, and to inspire others to do the same.

“Let them know (in a nice way) that they could get hurt if a driver is not paying attention or possibly unfamiliar with TTUHSC,” Witherspoon said.