Mobile devices key to pedestrian injuries among children: study

Chicago – Child pedestrian injuries may be reduced through improved parental supervision and education about distracting mobile devices, according to findings (.pdf file) presented at the 2012 American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress.

Researchers from the NYU Langone Medical Center analyzed data on more than 1,400 pedestrians who had been struck by motor vehicles between December 2008 and May 2011. Among the findings:

• 44 percent of pedestrians younger than 6 were injured when they crossed in the middle of the street or against a signal at a crosswalk, and most were accompanied by a guardian.
• Nearly 1 in 5 patients between 13 and 17 years old were distracted by mobile devices such as mp3 players or cell phones at the time of the incident.
• The majority of child pedestrian injuries were skin scrapes and other minor injuries.