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Overcoming Bias Commenter's avatar

Your post is very interesting. I do like your analysis and your beliefs are similar to mine. I would add the following cautions based on my recollections of US Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities data:

1. Don't walk Drunk. One third of US pedestrian fatalities occur with intoxicated pedestrians.

2. Don't J-walk. One half of US pedestrian deaths occur in roadways where pedestrians are not designated to be. I am aware that in many of these cases it is because no pedestrian facilities are provided.

3. Be more careful on Arterial roads. I am less sure of this number but close to 40% of US pedestrian fatalities occur on arterial streets. I would add that crossing a street also requires additonal vigulance.

4. Be more careful after dark. Pedestrians don't have visibility requirements so if it is dark there is a higher chance of fatalities per mile walked.

Based on these recollections, when in the daylight and on a sidewalk there is very little added risk with headphones and walking texting/emailing.

But as an former avid runner, I would not advise running in the street unless you have full control of your sense and take full responsbility for being alive after you enter the domain of the car.

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decius's avatar

Limit your device use to cases where you can retain situational awareness. That means stopping whatever you are doing on the phone whenever you see something that you should have noticed earlier (e.g. another pedestrian) but didn't, and whenever you anticipate that you might need to react quickly to something (e.g. when you cross any street).

For music/audio, I would restrict it to one ear.

If your goal in walking is to relax, or your goal for audio is to zone out or attend to the audio, don't do it on the sidewalk or anywhere else other people have a reasonable expectation that you are situationally aware.

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