Police warn text and tunes a killer

POLICE are urging people to refrain from texting and listening to loud music while walking as it can lead to serious accidents and deaths on the road.
This year 37 pedestrians, ranging in age from one to 91, have died as a result of collisions with vehicles.
City Traffic Inspector Greg Parr said it was crucial that pedestrians and motorists were aware of their surroundings.
“In any collision, pedestrians almost always sustain the highest levels of injury,” he said.
Mr Parr said electronic devices, such as music players and mobile phones, had the potential to distract pedestrians and cause collisions.
“Having your iPod earphones plugged in and the volume at maximum means you won’t be able to hear car horns or emergency vehicle sirens,” he said. “Similarly, if you’re crossing the road and staring at your mobile phone sending text messages or updating your Facebook status, it means you’re not going to see a vehicle approaching until it’s too late.”
Mr Parr said a crash that only dented the front bumper of a car could leave a pedestrian with life-threatening injuries.
“The vulnerable age groups of pedestrians in serious accidents are the elderly, the young and the intoxicated,” he said.
The average age of pedestrians killed this year is 48, including five people aged 80 or older and seven under 20.
Police encourage pedestrians, including parents and students, to always cross at school crossings or traffic lights, never cross the road between parked cars, look and listen in all directions for approaching traffic.
They also advise not to chase objects, such as balls, onto the road.