The Art of Jaywalking, Part 5

Multitasking: a word that did not exist until about 1995. For the jaywalker, the most dangerous distractions are not honking cars, speeding bicyclists, motorcyclists, buses or taxis. The worst distractions are those of our own doing -- mobile phones, cigarettes, coffee, PDAs and of course, the ubiquitous headphones. It is extremely important to keep your head about you when crossing the street. Put the phone down. Turn off the IPod. That email can wait. Look both ways. And keep your ears open. Yes, listening is just as important as looking. Never underestimate the power of the aural sense. (And I'm probably overstating this point. See The Art of Jaywalking, Part 3). Indeed, you may do well to shut down all but the most critical two senses -- eyes and ears open. So, at the risk of offending some of my reader(s), you may want to wait till you get to the other side of the street before even popping that stick of gum into your mouth.