Pokemon Go and Pedestrian Safety

Pokemon Go has received a good deal of attention regarding gaming and driving. Drivers the world over have busted up their rides while grasping for that dastardly Zubat. That kind of reckless road work certainly merits some coverage, sure, but Pokemon Go players are also prone to a different kind of of sloppy travel: gaming and walking.

Yep, even walking can get a little hairy if you’re not watching where you’re going. Would you believe that distracted walking is to blame for around one thousand injuries a year? It’s true! And most of those injuries occur while the walker is in the familiar comforts of home. If gazing at your phone can transform even the well-worn paths of your house into a maze of hazards, imagine what Pokemon Go can do with the outside world.

So what could happen to you if you text while walk? Let us count the ways.

Falls

Most injuries resulting from distracted walking come from falls. Makes sense, right? When you don’t watch where you’re going, you miss out on all sorts of stuff on your path, from uneven pavement to Boston Terriers. Any unexpected object in your path can trip you up and send you face-first to the sidewalk.

And falling down is no small thing. About a fifth of all falls end in injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It doesn’t take a whole lot to break a bone or bruise a brain. CDC adds that falls cost over billion dollars in medical bills each year.

Pedestrian Accidents

Cell phones and automobiles don’t mix. That’s true even when the cell phone user isn’t in the car. Pedestrians need to keep their eyes on the road, just like drivers. Unwatchful walkers put themselves in serious danger. More danger, in fact, than the drivers who hit them. Pedestrians don’t have a cage of heavy steel to protect them in case of an accident. While drivers who hit walkers are often liable for extensive medical bills, those walkers are likely to suffer more lasting damages. Serious injury or death is an all-too-often result when pedestrians get hit. Pokemon Go and pedestrians don’t mix, either.

Pedestrians Collisions

Sidewalks are slim. When their users don’t look out, they collide. While there doesn’t seem to be much research or many statistics regarding the effects of people walking into one another (although researchers have published intriguing papers on how walkers move differently in different cultures), it remains self-evident that nothing good is likely to come from people playing bumper cars on the city sidewalks.

Even when you’re on the sidewalk, not crossing the street, look out. Parks are infested with glassy-eyed Charizard chasers ignoring crowd-members’ physical space. It’s just basic manners to watch out for your fellow gamers.

Don’t Forget to Stretch!

When you’re out and about hunting Horseas, remember your real legs are walking through the real world. Stretch beforehand. In addition to distraction, poor prep can lead to injuries during walks. Pokemon Go is exercise! Treat is as such to prevent muscle strain.

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Author Anonymous