If "distracted walking" is contributing to an increase in pedestrian deaths, it's probably the case that most of the increased deaths aren't actually the fault of the pedestrian. If you're crossing in a crosswalk with the light and a car mows you over that isn't your fault, even if you're looking at your phone. Still it's the case that as a pedestrian one needs to be aware of drivers behaving badly, and you can't do that if you're staring at your phone.
I can be an idiot like anybody else, but I generally put the phone down if I'm crossing the street (not that I'm necessarily staring at it all the time otherwise). Even if you have a crosswalk and the light, it's best to pay attention. At some level it doesn't matter who is at fault if you're dead.
