GITNUXREPORT 2025

Distracted Walking Statistics

Distracted walking causes a significant rise in pedestrian injuries and fatalities.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Pedestrians who use smartphones while walking are about four times more likely to not notice obstacles or hazards

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Pedestrian distraction-related incidents are reported to increase during nighttime hours

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Distracted walking crashes accounted for around 4% of all pedestrian injuries in urban areas in 2021

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Over 22% of pedestrian fatalities are linked to distractions such as phone use, earphones, or other activities

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Cities implementing distracted walking laws saw a 20% reduction in pedestrian accidents

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Pedestrians using headphones are 50% more likely to be involved in accidents due to reduced awareness

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Pedestrians distracted by mobile devices are twice as likely to walk into hazards compared to attentive pedestrians

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Texting while walking increases the risk of falling by 67%

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Over 180,000 pedestrian injuries annually are linked to mobile device distraction

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Pedestrians engaged in conversation while walking are 35% more likely to be distracted and involved in incidents

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Pedestrian fatalities involving distraction are more common in urban areas than rural, accounting for about 65% of such incidents

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The use of augmented reality devices while walking has increased pedestrian distraction incidents by 15% over the past three years

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Pedestrians distracted by their devices are less likely to look both ways before crossing, increasing accident risk significantly

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The risk of falling when distracted while walking increases by 45%, especially on uneven surfaces

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Pedestrian activity linked to mobile distraction is highest during weekends, with a 20% increase compared to weekdays

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Implementing designated smartphone zones in some cities reduced distracted walking incidents by 25%

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Pedestrian distraction contributes to about 15% of all vehicle-pedestrian collisions in urban environments

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Wearing bright or reflective clothing can reduce pedestrian accidents linked to distraction by up to 15%, according to safety studies

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In some popular tourist destinations, pedestrian distraction caused by camera use increases the risk of accidents by 10%

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Pedestrian injuries related to cellphone use spike during holiday shopping seasons, with a 20% increase, due to increased distractions

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Emerging data suggests that pedestrian distraction is a growing cause of traffic incidents, rising by an estimated 12% annually

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Pedestrian deaths involving distraction are more prevalent in densely populated metropolitan areas, accounting for nearly 70% of such incidents

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Distraction-related pedestrian injuries are more common in summer months, correlating with increased outdoor activity

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The addition of auditory alerts at crossings reduces distraction-related incidents by 14%, according to recent safety implementations

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Pedestrian distraction studies indicate that the use of augmented reality glasses increases the likelihood of accidents by 18%, due to over-reliance on digital devices

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Approximately 25% of pedestrians in some surveys admit to texting or using their phones while walking

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In 2020, over 6,500 pedestrian injuries involved some form of distraction

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Cities with high smartphone usage saw a 30% increase in pedestrian distracted walking incidents over five years

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Approximately 60% of teenagers admit to using their phones while crossing the street

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Nearly 80% of pedestrian crashes occur at intersections, often when pedestrians are distracted

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About 1 in 7 pedestrian deaths in urban areas involve some form of distraction

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More than 50% of young adult pedestrian injuries involve distraction from mobile devices

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In a survey, 69% of pedestrians reported being distracted by their phones at some point while walking outdoors

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The average time pedestrians spend distracted with their phones while crossing streets is approximately 8 seconds

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In 2021, the highest number of pedestrian injuries occurred among pedestrians aged 16-24, many linked to distraction

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Approximately 12% of pedestrian accident reports cite distraction as a contributing factor

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About 31% of pedestrians reported they were distracted by their phones when involved in a near miss with a vehicle

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More than 100 cities worldwide have introduced public awareness campaigns about the dangers of distracted walking

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Pedestrian distraction contributes to approximately 25% of all pedestrian accidents, according to recent studies

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Nearly 4,000 pedestrian injuries involve distraction from headphones or earbuds annually

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About 55% of pedestrian injuries from distraction involve crosswalk accidents, primarily when pedestrians are inattentive

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About 35% of pedestrians involved in accidents were distracted by social media activity at the time

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Pedestrian fatalities involving distraction increased by 14% from 2014 to 2019

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Key Highlights

Approximately 25% of pedestrians in some surveys admit to texting or using their phones while walking
Pedestrians who use smartphones while walking are about four times more likely to not notice obstacles or hazards
In 2020, over 6,500 pedestrian injuries involved some form of distraction
Cities with high smartphone usage saw a 30% increase in pedestrian distracted walking incidents over five years
Approximately 60% of teenagers admit to using their phones while crossing the street
Pedestrian fatalities involving distraction increased by 14% from 2014 to 2019
Nearly 80% of pedestrian crashes occur at intersections, often when pedestrians are distracted
About 1 in 7 pedestrian deaths in urban areas involve some form of distraction
More than 50% of young adult pedestrian injuries involve distraction from mobile devices
In a survey, 69% of pedestrians reported being distracted by their phones at some point while walking outdoors
Pedestrian distraction-related incidents are reported to increase during nighttime hours
Distracted walking crashes accounted for around 4% of all pedestrian injuries in urban areas in 2021
The average time pedestrians spend distracted with their phones while crossing streets is approximately 8 seconds

Did you know that nearly 25% of pedestrians admit to texting or using their phones while walking, and those engaged are four times more likely to overlook hazards—yet despite these dangers, distracted walking continues to rise, silently fueling a staggering increase in accidents and fatalities in cities worldwide?

Impact of Distraction on Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrians who use smartphones while walking are about four times more likely to not notice obstacles or hazards
Pedestrian distraction-related incidents are reported to increase during nighttime hours
Distracted walking crashes accounted for around 4% of all pedestrian injuries in urban areas in 2021
Over 22% of pedestrian fatalities are linked to distractions such as phone use, earphones, or other activities
Cities implementing distracted walking laws saw a 20% reduction in pedestrian accidents
Pedestrians using headphones are 50% more likely to be involved in accidents due to reduced awareness
Pedestrians distracted by mobile devices are twice as likely to walk into hazards compared to attentive pedestrians
Texting while walking increases the risk of falling by 67%
Over 180,000 pedestrian injuries annually are linked to mobile device distraction
Pedestrians engaged in conversation while walking are 35% more likely to be distracted and involved in incidents
Pedestrian fatalities involving distraction are more common in urban areas than rural, accounting for about 65% of such incidents
The use of augmented reality devices while walking has increased pedestrian distraction incidents by 15% over the past three years
Pedestrians distracted by their devices are less likely to look both ways before crossing, increasing accident risk significantly
The risk of falling when distracted while walking increases by 45%, especially on uneven surfaces
Pedestrian activity linked to mobile distraction is highest during weekends, with a 20% increase compared to weekdays
Implementing designated smartphone zones in some cities reduced distracted walking incidents by 25%
Pedestrian distraction contributes to about 15% of all vehicle-pedestrian collisions in urban environments
Wearing bright or reflective clothing can reduce pedestrian accidents linked to distraction by up to 15%, according to safety studies
In some popular tourist destinations, pedestrian distraction caused by camera use increases the risk of accidents by 10%
Pedestrian injuries related to cellphone use spike during holiday shopping seasons, with a 20% increase, due to increased distractions
Emerging data suggests that pedestrian distraction is a growing cause of traffic incidents, rising by an estimated 12% annually
Pedestrian deaths involving distraction are more prevalent in densely populated metropolitan areas, accounting for nearly 70% of such incidents
Distraction-related pedestrian injuries are more common in summer months, correlating with increased outdoor activity
The addition of auditory alerts at crossings reduces distraction-related incidents by 14%, according to recent safety implementations
Pedestrian distraction studies indicate that the use of augmented reality glasses increases the likelihood of accidents by 18%, due to over-reliance on digital devices

Impact of Distraction on Pedestrian Safety Interpretation

While smartphone addiction may make our minds wander, the real hazard is how it leaves our feet in a dangerous limbo—highlighting that when pedestrians are more focused on their screens than their surroundings, they subtly turn urban sidewalks into potential hazard zones, a trend that safety laws and smart designs are progressively trying to mitigate.

Pedestrian Distraction and Smartphone Usage

Approximately 25% of pedestrians in some surveys admit to texting or using their phones while walking
In 2020, over 6,500 pedestrian injuries involved some form of distraction
Cities with high smartphone usage saw a 30% increase in pedestrian distracted walking incidents over five years
Approximately 60% of teenagers admit to using their phones while crossing the street
Nearly 80% of pedestrian crashes occur at intersections, often when pedestrians are distracted
About 1 in 7 pedestrian deaths in urban areas involve some form of distraction
More than 50% of young adult pedestrian injuries involve distraction from mobile devices
In a survey, 69% of pedestrians reported being distracted by their phones at some point while walking outdoors
The average time pedestrians spend distracted with their phones while crossing streets is approximately 8 seconds
In 2021, the highest number of pedestrian injuries occurred among pedestrians aged 16-24, many linked to distraction
Approximately 12% of pedestrian accident reports cite distraction as a contributing factor
About 31% of pedestrians reported they were distracted by their phones when involved in a near miss with a vehicle
More than 100 cities worldwide have introduced public awareness campaigns about the dangers of distracted walking
Pedestrian distraction contributes to approximately 25% of all pedestrian accidents, according to recent studies
Nearly 4,000 pedestrian injuries involve distraction from headphones or earbuds annually
About 55% of pedestrian injuries from distraction involve crosswalk accidents, primarily when pedestrians are inattentive
About 35% of pedestrians involved in accidents were distracted by social media activity at the time

Pedestrian Distraction and Smartphone Usage Interpretation

With over a quarter of pedestrians distracted by their phones—particularly youth—it's no wonder that nearly 80% of urban crashes happen at intersections, highlighting that in the age of constant connectivity, staying attentive might just be the most important safety feature pedestrians can have.

Pedestrian Injury and Fatality Statistics

Pedestrian fatalities involving distraction increased by 14% from 2014 to 2019

Pedestrian Injury and Fatality Statistics Interpretation

The rise of distracted walking—up 14% over five years—serves as a stark reminder that as our heads stay glued to screens, our feet may stumble into tragedy.