Pokemon Go Is the Cause of Distracted Drivers

Pokemon Go is one of the latest most famous applications worldwide, as it had a record number of downloads and brought a significant income to Niantic, the developers’ company. The game has drawn the attention of many categories of fans, drivers among them. A new study led by specialists points out that a game which requires so much attention from players turns out to be quite a danger for drivers.

The study on distracted drivers is based on information gathers from social media posts and news on crash accidents caused by the popular application. Researchers spent two days searching for tweets containing the word “Pokemon,” accompanied by others suggesting that the player was behind the wheel. They found more than three hundred thousand such posts, containing the word “Pokemon” followed by terms such as “car,” “drive” or “driving.”

People who drive and play Pokemon Go at the same time are qualified as distracted drivers. According to the study, at least eighteen percent of the three hundred thousand tweets belong to drivers engaged in the augmented reality game.

There are fourteen recorded car accidents which happened because drivers were playing Pokemon Go. They stand as proof that the game can endanger people’s lives. Both drivers and pedestrians face the risk of accidents if they don’t pay attention to the road signs and the traffic around them.

However, the researchers in charge of the study highlight the fact that being distracted by a game and being distracted by a phone call are not the same thing. They argue that making a phone call or sending a text message doesn’t take long, and the drivers can pay attention to the road at the same time. When it comes to playing augmented reality games, distracted drivers can’t focus on their cell phones’ screen and the road at the same time.

The new study on distracted drivers was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, on September 16. John Ayers, who is a professor at San Diego State University, is the main author of the study. His study was also concerned with the idea that passengers playing Pokemon Go in the car can disturb the driver. Further research will be carried out.

Authorities have been warning people about the risk of accidents ever since the craze about the game started to grow. They think that banning augmented reality games on the roads, highways, and parking lots is a good solution for reducing the number of distracted drivers and protecting pedestrians.

If you are in the category of distracted drivers due to any factors, you might want to reconsider your attitude. If you don’t have such a habit while driving, then you are a role model and a very responsible driver.

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