Drivers beware -- kids crossing with cell phones

Children also forgot to look both ways in about 20 percent of the crossings while on the phone; and they cut it a bit closer, giving themselves 8 percent less time to cross safely in front of oncoming traffic.

"Our results suggest that just as drivers should limit cell phone use while driving, pedestrians -- and especially child pedestrians -- should limit cell phone use while crossing streets," the researchers wrote.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)