USA Today article reported that the United States saw a slight increase in pedestrian fatalities in 2010. One reason cited for this increase was the increased use of cell phones and mobile music devices. The chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association was quoted as saying, "Anyone who travels in a busy city has seen countless pedestrians engrossed in conversation or listening to music while crossing a busy street. Just as drivers need to focus on driving safety, pedestrians need to focus on walking safety" (Copeland, 2011).
Is this sufficient evidence that pedestrians listening to music and talking or texting on a cell phone increase the risk of a fatal traffic injury?