A field survey of texting while walking in stations

Accidents involving the use of cell phones while walking are becoming a social problem in Japan. Especially, it is very dangerous in stations. People sometimes fall onto the train tracks while being glued to screen, and even... [ view full abstract ]

Accidents involving the use of cell phones while walking are becoming a social problem in Japan. Especially, it is very dangerous in stations. People sometimes fall onto the train tracks while being glued to screen, and even get hit by trains and get killed. This study investigated “texting while walking” in stations to develop effective methods for preventing related accidents.

  In Survey 1, the number of passengers using a cell phone while walking in the station was examined. The results indicated that the percentage of people texting while walking was especially high at the time when people return home when the station is crowded, which might increase the risks of falling onto train tracks, falling down, or bumping into other passengers. Moreover, the percentage of people texting while walking was higher among young people, compared to the middle-aged and the elderly. It was the highest in female students (17%).

   In Survey 2, a questionnaire was administered to passengers texting while walking through the station concourse and to those that were not. The results indicated 71% of the passengers texting while walking had been doing so from during boarding. On the other hand, 87% of those that were not texting while walking had finished using it before getting off the train. Whether texting was finished or not when getting off the train was considered an important factor in this difference.

Next, reasons for cell phone use was inquired. Most participants used messaging apps, SNS, or games while walking, or on trains. In many cases, SNS was used only during boarding, whereas messaging apps and games were often continued while walking. Moreover, the degree of absorption in using cell phones, urgency, and importance was rated using a scale from 1-not at all to 6-highly. The degree of absorption was different depending on the reasons for using cell phones. Participants playing games were significantly more absorbed, compared to those using SNS. Therefore, playing games while walking was considered especially dangerous. Over 70% of the participants responded that the level of urgency and importance of using cell phones while walking was low, which suggested that people were using cell phones though it was not highly necessary to do so. This was also recognized by the participants. Similar results were obtained from the survey on reasons for texting while walking. Of the participants, 46% responded, “I can finish the manipulation soon,” 41% responded, “I want to finish the manipulation when it is convenient for me,” and 41% responded, “I use my cell phone unconsciously.” On the contrary, only 14% responded that “it was an urgent matter” or 7% responded, “I had to use it now.” It is concluded that most people might use cell phones while walking though it is not highly necessary to do so. On the other hand, the risk of accidents increases depending on the reason for using cell phones. Furthermore, whether people finish using cell phones before getting off trains or not affects texting while walking after leaving trains.