There exists a growing problem along our already busy walkways here at Diablo Valley College: Students have their eyes focused on their smartphones or other electronic devices, oblivious to their surroundings and the potential hazards they face, or create, as they make their way to their respective destinations.

It is estimated that one in every five students is guilty of distracted walking at peak hours through the day.

Of 10 students and two professors surveyed, eight of the students and both professors agreed that distracted walking is a problem on campus.

I have watched in anxious disbelief as the drivers of authorized motorized vehicles such as the DSS ferry, maintenance and security painstakingly, miraculously, maneuver their way through the crowds. I have observed students blindly walking up and down the stairways, their eyes fixed on their devices.

Currently, there are no rules governing the use of mobile devices on campus outside of individual classroom policies set by instructors. It is time that the DVC policy-makers place the question of distracted walking on their agenda for immediate consideration. Let us not wait for an unfortunate accident to occur before we act to bring awareness to this social phenomenon.

Perhaps we could create “device-free zones” implemented along heavy foot-traffic areas, enforced by campus police. Or, create specified areas, strategically identified where devices are allowed.

The least we could do is to promote an awareness campaign, entrusting the student population to police itself. I have a crazy idea—what if we just stop, off to the side of walkways if we must use our device, just like current laws require drivers of vehicles do? Nah, too inconvenient.

We are all “tethered” to our device(s) for our own specific reasons, some more than others. But, we should not be so engrossed with it that we become unaware of our immediate surroundings or unmindful of the space of others.