Students Against Texting While Walking

By: Briana Chernak, Anike Owoye, Alexandria Hawkey, Kyra

Kirsh, David He
Benefits of
Phone-Free
Walking
Benefits
There are other things to look at than your phone
Multitasking distracts you rather than getting things done
quicker
Texting while walking increases your chance of having an
accident
When youre constantly on your phone, your mind suffers
as well
Research
Survey
98% of students polled reported
that they text and walk
81% of students said they were
most likely to text in between
classes
80% of students confirmed they
were aware of the potential
danger
Observational Research
People Watching
Wright and Daniel:
15/71
Southwest side of
Quad: 24/74
Physical Impact
Since 2009, pedestrian fatalities have actually increased by 15%
Nearly 40% of U.S. teens have been hit or nearly hit by a passing car, motorcycle, or bike
Of the 484 pedestrians ages 19 and younger who died after being hit by a motor vehicle in 2013, 47%
were 15 to 19 years old
53% of all adult cellphone owners have been on the giving or receiving end of a distracted walking
encounter.
Psychological Impact
Studies show that constantly
being on ones phone leads to
psychological distress and
mental disorders
Overuse of ones phone can lead
to sleep disorders as well as
stress
Strategies
 Have University of Illinois students
become aware of the risks of texting
while walking
 Build relations with the Office of
Student Affairs, National Safety
Council, College of Engineering and the
American Academy of Orthopedic
Surgeons
Tactics
#LookUp
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
#LookUp
Campus Checklist
Chalking the Quad
Ally Relations
1. AAOS: promotion of Distracted Walking Program
2. Engineering College: assisting in app development
3. National Safety Council: promotion of Head up, Phone Down Program
National Safety Council (most important!)
Mission: Nothing is more important than making sure their kids get home safely.

Numbers: 61 children are hit by cars every day

Goal: reach out parents

Tips:

a. Never walk while texting or talking on the phone

b. If texting, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk

c. Never cross the street while using an electronic device

Office of Student Affairs
Collaboration with Office of Student Affairs for the safety initiative Look Up!
This sponsorship would help bring our message directly to students through
access to residence hall space, the Freshman Welcome book and an App
called Look Up.
The goal of the collaboration is to implement a safety effort is designed to
encourage students to put their phone away while walking on campus and on
their way to class and informing them of the dangers and benefits of text free
walking.
Map Challenge

Target freshman in
Welcome
Daysbooklet with
map challenge.
Display Screens
Look Up week (info tables
in PAR and SDRP residence
halls, download app for
chance to win a Fit Bit)
Advertising throughout the
month of April in all
Residence Halls
April coincides with
Distracted Driving
Awareness month
Look Up Tables in Residence Halls
Set up information tables in residence halls (PAR and SDRP) to engage and
inform students about the initiative.
Daily Illini coverage of Look Up App
During Month of April/ Start of Look Up! week
Look Up! Buzzfeed Video
A student steps out of the Union into the Quad while looking down and texting.
Throughout his walk to class, he misses multiple, once in a lifetime opportunities
and dangerous situations due to his inability to look up from his cell phone. A few
of the things that he encounters include:

1) Group of people running in marathon have to stop to avoid a collision.

2) The beautiful Illinettes are performing on the Quad, but he walks right past it.
3) Walks past sign that says 1 free ticket left for Kanye West and Jay-Z concert.
4) Takes too long to get to the bus stop and is late to class.
Call to Action
Cost
$2,500 Budget
300 Customized Pens: approx. $140
100 Customized Sunglasses: approx $240
2 Fit Bit prizes: approx. $298
2 Balloon Arches: approx. $500
Display Screen Ads: approx. $160 a month
5 ft life size cutout of checklist : approx. $100
Misc. Costs: $1,000