New research finds 40 percent of teens say they’ve been hit or nearly hit while walking

(BPT) - Cell phones are a great way to keep in touch with teens on the go. However, new research examines how cell phones and other handheld gadgets are causing teens to be more easily distracted, leading to greater risk on the roads, particularly when walking.

“Teens on the Move,” a report from Safe Kids Worldwide and made possible with support from FedEx, explores the walking habits of 1,040 teens ages 13 to 19. The research found that an astonishing 40 percent of the teens surveyed said they had been hit or nearly hit while walking. The teens admitted to three unsafe habits that could be putting them at risk.

* Distraction. Half of teens surveyed say they cross the street while distracted by a mobile device.

* Walking in the dark. Seventy-three percent of teen pedestrian deaths occur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

* Crossing midblock or running across the street. Teens who had been hit or nearly hit more frequently reported crossing midblock or running across the street.

Every hour of every day, a teen pedestrian is killed or injured in the U.S. after being hit by a car, bike or motorcycle. Safe Kids developed the study to better understand why teens have the highest pedestrian death rates among children 19 and under. The death rate for teens ages 13 to 19 is nearly three times that of 5 to 12-year olds. In 2012, 490 children ages 19 and under died after being hit by a car while walking. Of those, 284 were teens ages 13 to 19. The new research expands on findings from a 2013 Safe Kids report that observed middle school and high school students crossing the street. That study revealed one in five high schoolers and one in eight middle schoolers cross while distracted by technology.

Safe Kids Worldwide and FedEx recommend the following tips to keep teens, and everyone safe while walking:

* Put down phones and headphones when crossing the street.

* Cross at a traffic signal or crosswalk, when possible and make eye contact with drivers before crossing.

* Be especially alert when it’s dark out, and make sure you’re visible to drivers.

Teens and parents can stand for pedestrian safety by participating in The Moment of Silence Campaign, which asks for this simple commitment: put down your device and pay attention when crossing the street. The campaign was launched in memory of Christina Morris-Ward, a 15-year old who was killed when crossing the street while distracted. She was wearing head phones and carrying a cell phone.

To learn more about teen pedestrian safety and the Moment of Silence Campaign, visit safekids.org.