Mobile phone users have been urged to pay attention to their surroundings and to "keep their eyes up", to prevent placing blind and vision-impaired people in danger.

New statistics from Guide Dogs Australia and lobby group VisAbility show about half of all people who use a white cane are bumped into, every time they are out of the house.

The organisations have launched a mobile phone campaign to mark International White Cane Day this Sunday.

White canes are used to probe for and locate obstacles, but also act as an identifying mark for a person who is blind or has poor vision.

The majority of white cane users who reported being bumped into said the incidents were caused by people being engrossed in their phones.

VisAbility Tasmania general manager Mary Langdon said the constant use of mobiles was now a part of everyday life, but community members could do their bit to help white cane users stay safe.

"It's just that reminder I guess, keep your eyes up, keep alert about what's happening around you," she said.

Users can be unsettled when they get bumped into, and canes can be damaged. ( 612 ABC Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe )

"Sometimes it can be people just being inattentive, people being in a rush and not really taking a lot of notice of what happening around them.

"But certainly some of it can be attributed to mobile phones."

The survey also found that in the last two years almost half of all cane users had been injured or knocked over, or had their cane broken by someone walking into them.

"White canes are a very, very important mobility tool," Ms Langdon said.

"Once they've gained confidence in using a white cane it's certainly very important and liberating for them.

"To be knocked over or pushed or their cane to be broken that sometimes can set people back a little bit."