• 19
  • January
    2012

People love to listen to music through headphones or ear buds while walking or even driving. Unfortunately if a person's attention is focused on what they are listening to, and other sounds are blocked out, they are more at risk for accidents.

In fact, a recent study links headphone use to a significant spike in pedestrian fatalities. Serious injuries as a result of headphone use by pedestrians have more than tripled during the past six years, according to research from the University of Maryland. The data showed that 70 percent of pedestrians wearing headphones who were hit by motor vehicles or trains were fatally injured.

In a Colorado pedestrian accident, a 21 year-old woman was hit by a Denver light rail train about two months ago. According to her mother she was wearing earphones, and didn't look both ways. Although the woman survived the accident, and was recently released from Denver Health Medical Center, she continues to undergo rehabilitation.

Listening to headphones while driving is also dangerous, and it is against the law in Colorado. This, however, doesn't stop many Colorado drivers from engaging in the behavior. Regardless of whether the ear buds are connected to a phone or music, Colorado drivers are prohibited from having both ears covered. A Colorado State Patrol Trooper explained, "We want one to be open so you can hear alarms, whether it be from emergency equipment or from a train."

The Colorado State Patrol is therefore advocating for "ears-free" walking and driving.

Source: 9News, State Patrol encourages 'ears-free' driving, walking, Eric Kahnert and Kim Christiansen, 18 January 2012