Young people are at risk of falling when texting and walking

It’s a been long-held belief. Now a study has found that young people really are more likely to fall over when texting as they walk.

The quality of the messages they send also suffers if they type on the move. Previous research suggested phone users are more likely to walk into traffic.

However, other studies suggested pedestrians had mastered the art of multi-tasking. Australian scientists have shown the falling risk increases if young people text.

Senior study author Dr Matthew Brodie, of the University of New South Wales, and colleague Dr Yoshiro Okubo created a walkway which had a tile that could be slid out of place halfway through.

It would feel like stepping on a banana peel. Student volunteers wearing safety harnesses and connected to motion monitors walked either without texting or while typing “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”. They were told they may or may not slip.

Data showed texting volunteers tried to be more cautious, but it did not counteract the risk of a fall.

Some slowed down while others sped up their walking pace. Dr Brodie said: “Such different approaches reinforce how no two people are the same and, to better prevent accidents from texting while walking, multiple strategies may be needed.”

When going from leaning forward, such as when texting, to slipping backwards, their “trunk angle” range increased “significantly”.

The scientists pointed out that young people could be more likely than their elders to take risks even if it increases the chance of falling.