Texting and walking identified as growing hazard

It's well known that texting and driving is dangerous, but increasingly the hazards of texting and walking are becoming known. Medical authorities are reporting injuries where distracted walkers are colliding with walls and pillars — and even cars.

In 2010 alone, 1,500 pedestrians were brought to U.S. emergency rooms for texting-related injuries.

The most common injuries were sprained ankles, but it can be more deadly, particularly in cases where cars are involved.

In Regina, Ian Armstrong said as a driver, he's had some close calls with texters who aren't looking where they're going.

'I've had someone walk out between two parked vans when I was driving on a crowded street, and I nearly flattened them.' —Motorist Ian Armstrong describes a close call

"I've had someone walk out between two parked vans when I was driving on a crowded street, and I nearly flattened them," he said. "You know, they couldn't hear me, so they were just going."

Stephanie Smith of Regina says she has seen them, too, on the sidewalk.

"I was on my way to yoga last week, walking on the sidewalk, and I could see a man that was texting on his cell phone," she said.

"I actually had to move out of the way so that he wouldn't hit me. And he looked up and looked back and said, 'Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run into you.'"

People texting on their bicycles, sometimes with no hands on the handlebars, is another common sight in Regina.

Texting and driving legislation is under the microscope this week in Saskatchewan, with some in government saying the rules should be tightened up.

So far, however, there's nothing specific in the law applying to texting and walking.