Digital music players causes 17 accidents a day

LONDON, UK: Believe it or not, but digital music players are blamed for up to 17 accidents every day in Britain.

Motoring groups have warned that road users are driving themselves towards "iPod oblivion".

Pedestrians, joggers, car drivers and cyclists are all at risk of falling into a zombie-like state while plugged into modern technology, the Daily Mail quoted the Automobile Association (AA) as saying.

It said accidents caused by people using MP3 players, mobile phones and electronic organisers while on the move have risen by five percent in the last one year.

Breakdown patrols have noticed a marked increase in pedestrians seemingly heedless of the speeding traffic as they cross busy roads.

These "podestrians" can sometimes be spotted checking their e-mails as they dodge passing cars.

It also cited cases of motorists so plugged in to music in their cars that they drive inattentively.

AA Insurance experts calculate that inattention by pedestrians could be the cause of 17 collisions a day and crashes of this kind have increased by five percent in the last year.

AA president Edmund King said: "When on the move, our brains have much to take in and using technological gadgets means that our brains can't always concentrate on so many things at once."