The dangers of distracted walkers

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - While crossing the street seems simple enough to you, too many distractions could lead you down a dangerous road.

You deal with distractions every day, especially on college campuses like Indiana University.

Students on this campus have only 10 seconds to cross the street before the light turns red, but these students do more than just walk, they read texts, talk on the phone, and listen to music.

"I'd say I'm on my phone every time I'm not with someone walking so like half the time," Indiana University freshman Kristi Sannella said.

However, these students don't realize just how dangerous distractions can be.

Sixteen-year old Alexis Stewart of Evansville was hit and killed by a car while trying to text before crossing the street and 20-year old Lisa Moran, an exchange student at University of North Carolina, was listening to an iPod while jogging when she stepped into the path of a bus and died.

In fact, you are four times more likely to get hit by a car when you're using your phone.

News 10 caught students walking right in the path of this car or one student darting in front of the car at the last minute.

"I'll gauge my time when I can be looking down versus when I have to stop and actually pay attention to what's going on around me," Indiana University graduate student Tommy Alberts said.

Although it may be hard to calculate just how unsafe these distractions are, just Look around you, it's not hard to find someone on the phone, listening to music, or texting.

So while walking across the street seems simple enough for you, for Alexis and Lisa, it ended their lives.

For more information on the dangers of distracted walkers click here .