Texting while walking should be banned because it is hazardous to all people on roadways. Granted, some people may be successful at texting and walking safely; however, most people do not pay attention to their surroundings when texting, and thereby pose a threat as they cross streets. For instance, texting takes …show more content…
To be sure, distracted pedestrians are not the only cause of traffic that moves at a snail’s pace. Nevertheless, texters do cause trouble in intersections, and there is evidence to back it up. To demonstrate this, researchers at the University of Queensland found that people distracted by phones walk 1.1 feet per second slower than they do when they are fully alert. Furthermore, their stride length decreases as well, making texting pedestrians significantly slower, also holding up traffic (Fowler). This proves that though texting pedestrians are still moving, in an effort to be more careful, they also slow down, taking more time in the intersection, and impeding the smooth flow of traffic. Given these points, pedestrians should not text and walk as they are bound to hold up traffic. To sum it all up, texting and walking should be prohibited because it is harmful to drivers and pedestrians and is a factor in clogging traffic. It would be beneficial to let go of personal devices for at least the ten seconds that it takes to cross a street and pay more attention to the safety of everyone using the road. If phone usage while walking is banned, it would be much safer for drivers and pedestrians