After the launch of the location-based mobile game Pokémon GO last July, passersby who awkwardly swipe their fingers on smartphones to throw Pokéballs can often be observed on streets. 

Pokémon GO and walk might only create bumps on foreheads, but Pokémon GO and drive could cause some severe damages.

According to a working paper released last week by researchers from Purdue University, during the 148 days following the introduction of the augmented reality (AR) game, a total loss from injuries, damage, and the two casualties is between 5.2 million US dollars and 25.5 million US dollars, in Tippecanoe County of Indiana alone, which was about two billion US dollars to 7.3 billion US dollars at the nation-wide scale.

By examining nearly 12,000 detailed police accident reports for the county, researchers found that compared to the same period before, 134 out of the 286 crashes during the 148 days were near PokéStops, places that allow users to collect items such as eggs and Pokéballs.

"We find a significant increase in crashes near PokéStops from before to after July 6, 2016," said Mara Faccio and John J. McConnell, authors of the paper.

Titled "Death by Pokémon GO", the paper also indicated that the number of crashes near PokéStops is significantly higher than near Gyms, where users can battle the Pokémon of rival teams, suggesting that accidents were caused by people hopping out of cars while playing the game.

After a number of Pokémon GO-related accidents, the game’s maker Niantic updated it in November 2016 to stop players from checking into PokeStops if their devices are moving faster than 30 miles per hour, as an action prevent Pokémon GO and drive.