Minimizing Distracted Pedestrians in Crosswalks at Signalized Intersections

Distracted pedestrian injuries and deaths at intersections have increased sharply in recent years, especially among young adults. Each year, over 68,000 pedestrians are injured, and 1,400 pedestrians are killed in collisions with motor vehicles at intersections. One of the main causes of these accidents is distracted walking, such as texting or talking on the phone while crossing the street. To address this problem, several lawmakers across the United States are proposing plans to reduce distracted pedestrians, especially in crosswalks at signalized intersections. One proposal is to outlaw pedestrian texting while walking on roadways. This would help to ensure that pedestrians are paying attention to their surroundings and are less likely to be involved in an accident. This study aims to identify innovative ways to inform pedestrians at signalized intersections about the dangers of distraction and dissuade them from the usage of electronic devices while using crosswalks. The study will identify signage, design, and informational programs that can be used to mitigate the incidence of pedestrian distraction. The project team will conduct an extensive review of the literature concerning the existing innovations, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and traditional countermeasures such as high visibility signs, rapid-flashing beacons, audio-visual cues, etc. that are currently being used to improve pedestrian safety at crosswalks. Specific focus will be concentrated on the reduction of distractions amongst pedestrians at signalized crosswalks. Furthermore, a comprehensive survey will be conducted to understand individual perceptions of safety among road users, including pedestrians. The project team will identify several signalized intersections in the District of Columbia with high pedestrian volume and formulate a series of questions to capture what pedestrians consider to be distracting at those intersections. Relevant demographic data will also be collected to understand different perspectives of pedestrians. In addition, the road geometry of selected intersections such as crosswalk length, number of lanes, etc., will also be noted to correlate the pedestrian’s perception of safety at different types of intersections.