(ECNS) - Teen pedestrians are at a greater risk of accidents because of irresponsible use of cell phones, the Beijing Evening News reported on Monday.
The newspaper investigated pedestrian behavior near three middle schools, and observed many students listening to music, texting or playing games on their phones while crossing busy streets.
On an avenue near Beijing No. 22 Middle School, almost every student was holding a smartphone as they left school. Some failed to notice a red light.
The majority of students were chatting with family members or friends, and some were playing games, according to the newspaper.
One girl said her school forbids the use of cell phones in class and that her parents control her usage at home. Her only unmonitored time using the phone is when she walks to and from school.
Near the Beijing No. 54 Middle School is another busy road, but 34 out of 100 students were observed crossing the street while looking at their phones. Of these, half were also wearing headphones, adding further distraction.
When asked if they are aware of the risks, most students said they can observe road conditions from the corner of their eyes.
The situation was not better near Beijing No. 15 Middle School. In less than an hour, 10 students were seen with their heads lowered looking at their phones while walking on a zebra crossing.
According to a report by Safe Kids Worldwide, 39 percent of students cross streets while typing on cell phones, and 39 percent do so while listening to headphones.
Wang Lin, a researcher for Safe Kids Worldwide, said road accidents were a leading cause of unnatural deaths for teens of middle-school age.
Many parents require their children to call home after school, but using cell phones may cause students to ignore safety while crossing roads, Wang added.
It has been said that "phubbers," people who pay more attention to their mobile devices than to where they're walking, are getting younger and younger.
Psychologist Zong Chunshan says smartphones can help students relieve stress from studying, but people in their age group often lack self discipline.
