One in 10 minor traffic accidents caused by 'podestrians'

Talking or texting on your cell phone while behind the wheel has been outlawed in many parts of the country, but another threat remains and the only thing you can do about it is remain vigilant. 'Podestrians'—or iPod-toting pedestrians—have been known to step into traffic without looking both ways causing one in ten minor traffic accidents, according to Swinton Insurance in Britain.

These young headphone-wearing pedestrians listen to their music so loud, oftentimes they fail to hear oncoming traffic until it's too late. To make matters even worse, some podestrians try to multitask by texting or talking on the phone as they walk down the street.

Swinton Insurance says it has seen an increase in claim forms that mention podestrians as the cause of an accident. The most common scenario involves distracted pedestrians stepping into the street without looking both ways, causing rear-end collisions as a result.

Here in the U.S., it is not uncommon to hear of iPod-related accidents on regular basis either. As a matter of fact, it seems like every month I hear of a new pedestrian, cyclist, runner, or driver who was involved in deadly traffic accident because they were either listening to their iPod or talking on their phone.

So while there's reason to be concerned here, the only thing we can do is remain vigilant at all times. Whether you're walking or driving, keep your eyes on the road, and turn the noise down people. It might save someone's life.