Pedestrians And Headphones Are Never A Good Combination: What You Need To Know
Everyone knows that drivers should not wear headphones while driving. That would be way too dangerous! However, most people take for granted that pedestrians can wear headphones so they can enjoy music and podcasts while walking around town or getting in some exercise.
Don't be quick to go along with this all-too-accepted notion. In November 2016, a pedestrian who walked right into a fire truck that had its sirens blaring in Toronto, Canada, made headlines, but luckily, that incident did not end in tragedy. It's an example of how pedestrians can easily tune out the world when they have on high-quality headphones that block out the sound around them. Here's why you should never wear headphones as a pedestrian unless you are in a hurry to see a car accident attorney as a victim in a crash.
The Risk of Death
A disconcertingly large percentage of pedestrians who were injured in car accidents while wearing headphones experienced fatal injuries. That boils down to both being distracted and the sensory deprivation that comes with being focused on the music, podcast, or other mp3 file that is being played over the headphones. Although wearing headphones with the volume going at full blast can seem like a great way to make a
Putting Others at Risk
Even when people acknowledge that they probably shouldn't be wearing headphones while walking, they may not think that it poses a danger to anyone but themselves. That is not true, though. If a driver sees a pedestrian suddenly enter the path their vehicle is on, they may swerve, which can hurt other pedestrians and others in vehicles.
There's another way that it puts others at risk. Pedestrians wearing headphones often cannot even hear emergency sirens, and subsequently, they can hold up emergency vehicles who must stop for them at a time when every second matters in the fight to save a life. Distracted walking isn't as dangerous to others as distracted driving, but it can result in harm or even death to others, too.
Finally, keep in mind that it is very important to stay in the moment and aware of your surroundings all the time when walking near roads. Not only should you refrain from wearing headphones as a pedestrian, but you should try to minimize all other potential distractions as well.