Over 60s to Take Extra Care Crossing Roads

A research study at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois has concluded that it is not safe for over 60s to chance crossing a road while, for example, talking on their mobile phones. The results of the study are published in the journal Psychology and ageing.

The study involved a series of tests which examined a series of distractions while crossing the road, for example listening to music or talking on mobile phones using a hands free kit. The researchers found that people aged 59 to 81 took "significantly longer than college students to cross a simulated street while talking on a mobile phone, while college students "showed no impairment on dual-task performance".

Post-doctoral researcher Mark Neider said: "Combined with our previous work, the current findings suggest that while all pedestrians should exercise caution when attempting to cross a street while conversing on a cell phone, older adults should be particularly careful." He acknowledged, however, that younger people too "show similar performance decrements, but under much more challenging conditions."

It has been noted however that most over 60s have much more sense than to attempt crossing the road while texting or talking on their phones. For anyone to do this is dangerous indeed anyway or at least folly.

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