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Updated: May 1, 2026
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Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking
Published on: April 30, 2020
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Technology-related distracted walking behaviours in Manhattan's most dangerous intersections
Corey H Basch1, Danna Ethan2, Sonali Rajan3
1William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey, USA.
Summary
Over a quarter of pedestrians in busy urban areas are distracted by mobile devices. This distracted walking behavior, particularly phone use, poses risks during street crossings.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Urban Planning
- Transportation Safety
Background:
- Mobile device use is a growing concern for pedestrian safety in urban environments.
- Pedestrian distraction contributes to traffic accidents, with over half of New York City traffic fatalities in 2010 involving pedestrians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of distracted walking among pedestrians using headphones, mobile phones, or both.
- To analyze distracted walking behaviors at high-risk intersections in Manhattan.
Main Methods:
- Direct observational data collection at 10 Manhattan intersections with frequent pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions.
- Observation of over 3500 pedestrians during 'walk' and 'don't walk' signal phases.
Main Results:
- More than 25% of observed pedestrians exhibited distracted walking behaviors (28.8% during 'walk', 26.3% during 'don't walk').
- A significant difference was found in mobile phone talking behavior between 'walk' and 'don't walk' signals, but not for other distractions.
Conclusions:
- Distracted walking is prevalent in busy urban settings, impacting pedestrian safety.
- Findings can inform targeted pedestrian safety initiatives and urban design strategies.
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