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The Science Seminar Series: March 11, 2010
Risks in distracted cell phone use and texting while walking
Dr. Chuck Talor
Department of Psychology
Valdosta State University
Powell HallTime: 4:00 -5:00pm
In 2008 over 1,200 pedestrians were admitted to hospital emergency rooms directly as a result of injuries received when they were texting while walking. While the literature is extensive on the dangers of distracted driving, relatively little is known about distracted walking. Walking is potentially dangerous. In 2008, over 4,000 pedestrians died in a variety of accidents, mostly through hit-and-run accidents. It is not known the proportion of those dead who were involved in distracted walking. The purpose of the present talk is to examine issues in the cognitive processes of distracted activities, including walking while texting.