With all the mobile products around today, drivers are becoming distracted from driving. Products such as the Sync and UVO were developed to make it safer for drivers and pedestrians. But what about the pedestrians? According to a study done by Ohio State University more than 1,000 pedestrians visited emergency rooms in 2008 because they got distracted and tripped, fell or ran into something while using a cell phone to talk or text. That was twice the number from 2007, which had nearly doubled from 2006. These are only the reported incidents. While most incidents result in embarrassment or damaged pride, some result in injury or even death.

Researchers are beginning to study the impact of multitasking. It makes sense that someone looking at a phone to read a message could misstep, but researchers are finding that just talking on a phone is a distraction enough to cause a serious accident. In a recent study at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., by psychology professor, Ira Hyman, and his students, a clown riding a unicycle on campus was noticed by only 25 percent of lone pedestrians using their phone. Dr. Hyman noted that even the study participants found it hard to believe they had failed to notice a clown on a unicycle. “They were utterly surprised they missed it,” he said. “You can think you’re doing fine and be missing all sorts of things.”