T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON A PEDESTRIAN crosses Fourth Street in Martins Ferry on Friday afternoon.

MARTINS FERRY — The dangers of distracted driving are often talked about because of the potential loss of life involved.

But there is another potential danger that seems to be pondered less frequently — distracted street crossing.

In the city of Martins Ferry, for example, during the past week or so at least two youngsters have been seen crossing streets while wearing earbuds or headphones and not paying attention to traffic. As they listened to music, they stepped into the roadway without looking, forcing motorists to quickly slow down and stop to avoid hitting them.

In one case, the youth kept walking in the road oblivious to the car driving behind her, waiting for her to get back onto a sidewalk.

Had the drivers who were involved not been paying attention, both situations could have ended badly.

The Governors Highway Safety Association notes that along with a 236 percent increase in smartphone use between 2010 and 2016, there also has been increase in emergency room visits related to use of the devices. People often use such phones to listen to music, frequently with headphones in use, too.

According to the association, “pedestrians now account for approximately 16 percent of all motor vehicle deaths, compared with 11 percent just a few years ago.”

The association states that two factors appear to be linked to pedestrian deaths: “Two recent trends present an interesting correlation with rising pedestrian fatalities: the growth in smartphone use nationally and the legalization of recreational marijuana in several states.”

No connection between smartphones or marijuana and pedestrian deaths has been proven.

“While the report does not find or imply a definitive link between these factors and pedestrian deaths, it is widely accepted both smartphones and marijuana can impair the attention and judgment necessary to navigate roadways safely behind the wheel and on foot,” the association notes.

Although people have been using headphones for years, especially after the inception of the Walkman in the 1980s, today’s devices are more powerful compared to those of yesteryear. Many earbuds are inserted into the ear canal, while other Beats-style headphones cover the entire ear. Many styles also have “noise canceling” features that prevent other sounds from interfering with the user’s enjoyment of the music they are hearing.

Martins Ferry Schools Superintendent Jim Fogle said he personally has not witnessed children wearing headphones and walking into traffic, but he concedes such devices can be a distraction.

“I’ve not witnessed much of that at all. … But if you’re not paying attention to your surroundings and you have on Beats or earbuds, it can only lessen your awareness of your environment,” Fogle said. “Anytime you are voluntarily putting … something in your ears you are lessening your awareness of what is going on. It could be a dangerous thing, a dangerous situation.”