Every hour, a teen is injured or killed after being struck by a vehicle in the United States.

Pedestrians
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
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A new report released by Safe Kids Worldwide found that 40 percent of those between the ages of 13 and 19 have been hit or nearly hit by a car, bike or motorcycle while walking. According to the research, distraction plays a major role in those numbers.  In fact, half of the more than 1,000 surveyed said they cross the street while using their mobile device.

"We know that walking while distracted is as dangerous as driving while distracted. The teens who had close calls were the ones who admitted that they were distracted," said Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. "There is a definite connection between distracted walking and the incidents of getting hit and either injured or even killed."

Safe Kids Worldwide recommends the following tips to keep teens safe while walking:

  • Put down phones and headphones when crossing the street.
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
  • Be especially alert when it's dark out, and make sure you're visible to drivers.
  • Cross at a traffic signal or crosswalk when possible.

"We need our visual and auditory senses so we can see and hear traffic if we're walking," Carr said.

It's especially important for teens to be safe when it's dark out.  Of the teen fatalities, 73 percent occur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

"These injuries and fatalities are preventable," Carr said.

 

 

 

 

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