Danger = (Run or Walk) + (Text or Talk or Surf)

It is dangerous to text, talk, or surf on a cellphone while running or walking.

So SpryFeet.com officially launched today its “Alert and Alive” pledge campaign, which asks runners and walkers to commit to safe cellphone use while on the road or trail.

Some people have asked me whether this campaign is necessary — as if running or walking while using a cellphone were as easy as walking and chewing gum at the same time.

But this is no joke.

There is now a lot of evidence that using a cellphone while running or walking can be just as dangerous to you (if not to other people) as using a cellphone while driving.

Unfortunately, when it comes to cellphones, runners and walkers today are where drivers were a few years ago, and the wireless industry is nowhere to be seen on this issue.

After noticing people running or walking around like “zombies” — as one psychologist blogged about it last month — with their cellphones, I decided to research this problem.

Once I realized just how growing and serious this problem has become, it made sense to launch this “Alert and Alive” pledge campaign.

I urge you to take the pledge — or at least to make a private commitment to yourself to take a cellphone with you (Tip #1 in 123 Cellphone Tips for Runners and Walkers) on your runs and walks but to stop moving when you must talk, text, or surf.

If you would like to spread the word about SpryFeet.com’s “Alert and Alive” pledge campaign, then please click one of the sharing links (email, Facebook, or Twitter) at the top of the pledge page.

Thank you for doing whatever you can to promote safe cellphone use by runners and walkers.

Please leave a comment here, if you have a story to share about cellphone safety while running or walking. Thank you!