The dangers of driving while distracted are well known. Anything that takes the attention of the driver away from the road can cause an accident. Drivers are not the only ones who must stay focused on the road. The other key factor of road safety is the pedestrian.

According to the Department of Transportation, there were 10,848 motor vehicle accidents in Hawaii in 2001. In that same year, 30 pedestrians were killed and 539 were injured in motor vehicle accidents. Unlike drivers, pedestrians do not have any protection when they are in an accident.

Laws should be passed to help pedestrians protect themselves better. Using crosswalks and sidewalks while distracted can be just as dangerous as driving while distracted. Electronic devices not only take away attention from traffic but also from cracks in the sidewalk, low hanging branches, patches of mud or the sound of car horns.

Dependency on electronic devices has become epidemic. Many people find it difficult to be separated from their cell phones, laptops or iPods. Pedestrians wearing headphones block out the sounds of incoming cars and those engrossed in electronic devices lose their awareness and ability to react to danger.

A New Jersey state law has made texting while walking illegal. Pedestrians in violation of the law are fined $85. One hundred and seventeen tickets were issued in the first month after the law was passed.

Investigators are starting to look at whether pedestrians should take some blame for motor vehicle accidents.

Dictating what pedestrians can do may be seen as an infringement on individual rights. Safety, however, should be the primary concern of all. With both pedestrians and drivers focused on the road there will be fewer motor vehicle collisions, deaths and injuries nationwide and in Hawaii.