Teen Pedestrian Deaths Are Up And Texting May Be The Reason

Texting while walking is a rising heath hazard for American teenagers, according to a new study.

Safe Kids Worldwide has found that pedestrian deaths are up for older teens (ages 15 to 19), who now account for 50% of pedestrian fatalities among those 19 and younger.

The organization directly links that rise to distracted walking. It ran a study that found one in five high schoolers was observed crossing the street while distracted (on the phone, listening to music, texting, or playing a video game).

While that connection makes sense — more distraction leads to more accidents — Safe Kids Worldwide offers no direct, causal link between the two — such as teens observed being hit by a car while texting.

In any case, the number of teens killed while walking still pales in comparison to those killed while driving (20%), by homicide (17%) and by suicide (14%), according to 2009 numbers from Teen Driver Source, a research institute at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"Other motor vehicle traffic-related" deaths count for 8%, just above poisoning and cancer.

Here's Safe Kids Worldwide data: