10 Reasons Not to Text and Walk at the Same Time

All of us know texting and driving is a bad idea. But texting and walking may be worse. According to a 2013 study published in the Accident Analysis & Prevention journal, mobile phone-related injuries among pedestrians exceeded those for drivers in 2010. In other words, more people get hurt yearly from texting and walking than from texting and driving. Texting and walking are bad. It’s so bad, in fact, that New Jersey considered making distracted walking a crime, with a punishment of up to $50 in fines /or 15 days in jail. But potential fines and jail time aren’t the only reasons you should be wary of texting and walking. There are many reasons to not text and walk. For example, Bear attacks. I’m serious.

Fountains

Fountains may be monumental, gushing water structures, but texting and walking leave you completely blind and deaf to all that. Not only did this woman fall into a giant fountain while texting and walking, but she also contemplated suing the security guards who laughed at her.

Stairs

Stairs are pretty dangerous, even when you’re not texting. When you are texting, they are basically death traps.

Storm Drains

Think your leg can’t get stuck in a storm drain? Think again! This Chinese teenager managed to text and walked her way right into a storm drain one summer, where her entire leg got stuck for about 45 minutes before the fire department freed her.

Chairs

Yes, even chairs are out to get you. Don’t text, until you sit down!

Bears

While wandering down your driveway, you might think it’s safe to text and walk. But you’re mistaken because bears will attack you. Take this California man, who managed to look up from his oh-so-important text message. He claimed it was a text to his boss, just in time to see a 300-pound bear walking toward him.

Doors

That classic I thought this door was open. But I actually had no idea because I was looking at my phone moment.

Walls

The only thing worse than walking into a closed door is walking into a wall.

Trains

It’s probably common sense that if you’re going to text and walk. You shouldn’t do it around large moving vehicles like trains. Luckily for this guy, train platforms have built-in areas where you can take shelter if you fall onto the tracks. And it’s not just subway riders who text their way into trouble. A 27-year-old Florida woman was clipped by a freight train just a year before, thanks to her distracted walking.

Sinkholes

Never do anything but walk while walking in China. Because the sidewalks there are apparently full of hazards, including invisible ones. This teenage girl was on her phone, possibly not texting, but still, when she fell 20 feet through the pavement into a sinkhole.

Your Own Two Feet

You could be in the middle of a completely empty football field. And your own two feet would still sabotage you if you attempted to text and take a step. Trust us. Texting and walking are never worth it!