Smartphone in hand: a campaign to alert pedestrians

Pedestrians and telephones, a dangerous connection. More than half of French people use their phones while walking, and nearly 8% of them have already been hit by a vehicle, smartphone in hand, reveals an Opinionway survey . Faced with these risky behaviors, the GMF insurance company is launching a prevention campaign with a 3D film, entitled “La balade de Charlotte”. Its objective: to make pedestrians aware of the risks associated with the use of mobile phones in town. “Our desire is to make our different audiences think by making them live the experience”, explains Julie Cabuzel, prevention manager at GMF assurance. “In 2015, there were 468 pedestrian deaths and we fear that the use of the cell phone while walking is part of this massacre because, when they find themselves on the phone when crossing the street, people are completely disconnected from reality ”, she denounces inThe Parisian

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Young people more exposed

The vast majority of respondents are aware that using their smartphone while walking represents a danger, but nothing helps, they still take risks. By crossing in particular outside pedestrian crossings, red … And young people are the most likely to pay the costs. “Young people use their phones more intensively when walking than the rest of the population,” explains the GMF in its press release. Indeed, 18-24 year olds are particularly vulnerable. 95% of them use their smartphone to make calls, to send or read text messages, and more than half listen to music, always while walking. A permanent stimulation which exposes them to sometimes very serious consequences. In addition to a simple collision with street furniture (bench, bus shelter, etc.) or worse with a cyclist, 14% of those questioned have already come close to a collision with a vehicle, and 8% of them could not escape it. A figure that climbs to 13% for 18-24 year olds and even 19% of

25-34 years old.