Crime Rises Among Unknowing Cell Phone and mp3 Users

Walking the streets of Chicago, one can observe the sheer number of people who are either talking on cell phones or listening to an mp3 player. Criminals have begun to notice this, and accident numbers have climbed. There is a new name for this victim: The absent present pedestrian.

The New Atlantis Monthly, an internet tech journal, has coined the term in describing a person who is disconnected from their surroundings by an mp3 player or cell phone. The hazard of being absent present is that those people are neither paying attention to their surroundings nor are they alert to any upcoming dangers. These are the perfect victims for any criminal.

Professor David Strayer of the University of Utah says that 330,000 injuries are caused every year by the distractions such as a cell phone. Strayer also says that 2,600 deaths are caused every year, by the popular little electronic diversions. Most are related to criminal acts, but some are accidents that could have been avoided. Chris Rosen, the editor of The New Atlantis Monthly, recounted a news story of a pedestrian who stepped into the path of a delivery truck that was backing up. Several bystanders tried to warn both parties of the impending accident, but neither heard the warnings. The truck driver was talking on the cell phone, and the pedestrian was listening to an mp3 player. The accident was fatal.

More attention is being called to the absent present victim phenomenon. Universities are now posting the hazards of using an electronic distraction while walking in and around campus. Boston University now has such a warning on its safety webpage. Called the "IPOD and Cellular Alert", the notice tells students how their alertness is diminished by the devices, making them more susceptible to criminal acts. State and local governments are getting in on the act. Laws prohibiting the use of cell phones and mp3 players by pedestrians are in the works all over the country.

A new type of victim has emerged in our techno-savvy society, one who can easily change his or her fate. The absent present pedestrian must take out the "earbuds" and put the phone back in the pocket. If the call is necessary, or if hearing that one song would make or break your day, stop off at one of the many wonderful cafes and shops along American urban streets. Take a cab if you're in a hurry and can't live without your gadgets.