When a motor vehicle hits someone who is traveling on foot, whether it be a walker, jogger or runner, catastrophic injuries are often the result. It is common for pedestrians to suffer head injuries, as well as neck and back injuries. Fatalities are also all too common.

According to USA Today, pedestrian accidents are on the rise in North Carolina and elsewhere because of iPods and other devices that make it harder for people on foot to sense an oncoming motor vehicle until it is too late.

New research has shown that serious injuries to pedestrians listening to headphones have more than tripled in the past six years. Fatalities occurred in 70 percent of the accidents, the study from the University of Maryland revealed.

The study looked at 116 accidents that occurred between 2004 and 2011 and involved pedestrians being hit by trains or automobiles. More than two-thirds of the accident victims were males below the age of 30, the study found.

"Everybody is aware of the risk of cellphones and texting in automobiles, but I see more and more teens distracted with the latest devices and headphones in their ears," the lead author of the study told USA Today.

When it comes to safety on the roads, we all have a role. All too often drivers have their own distractions and do not see pedestrians. This is why it is important for pedestrians to have all of their senses on alert.

Pedestrians should not trust that drivers see them and will stop. One way to make sure that it is safe to cross is to make eye contact with the driver. It's also important to always use a designated crosswalk.

Source: USA Today, "Study: More headphone-wearing walkers hit by cars," Chris Woodyard, Jan. 17, 2012