Pedestrians distracted by iPods and other electronic gadgets could be responsible for up to 17
car insurance claims a day, according to research by the AA.
MP3 players, mobile phones and electronic organisers are likely to have been a contributing factor in some 500 pedestrian deaths and more than 26,000 injuries last year.
Typical incidents include people on their phones stepping into the road without looking, or even walking right into the side of the car.
"When on the move our brains have much to take in and using technological gadgets means that our brains can't always concentrate on so many things at once," said Edmund King, president of the AA.
The problem also appears to be growing, as the organisation has noticed a five per cent increase in these types of collisions over the past twelve months.
A poster campaign is already running in Australia to warn people of the dangers of being distracted by gadgets while on a busy road.
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