Research examining real-life pedestrian interactions with vehicles on crowded streets has concluded that distracted pedestrians are at a greater risk compared to those who are not distracted. The findings show that distracted individuals often lack awareness of their environment, resulting in fewer changes to their walking path or speed, which ultimately impacts their ability to navigate effectively. This distraction can elevate the severity of vehicle encounters and near misses by as much as 45 percent.
Research from UBC indicates that pedestrians who are distracted have a higher likelihood of safety hazards compared to those who are attentive.
Earlier investigations have suggested that individuals distracted by texting or phone calls face increased chances of being struck by a vehicle due to a lack of response to approaching cars or wandering from designated crosswalks.
The current study, recently published in Accident Analysis and Prevention, confirms that distracted pedestrians typically do not notice their surroundings, resulting in fewer adaptations to their speed or trajectory, thereby reducing their navigational effectiveness. Such distractions can enhance the severity of interactions with vehicles and near misses by 45 percent.
“Pedestrians who are not distracted made safer decisions when interacting with vehicles,” stated lead researcher Dr. Tarek Sayed, a civil engineering professor and expert in transportation safety at the Faculty of Applied Science. “They kept a greater distance from vehicles, yielded more often to oncoming traffic, and adjusted their pace as needed.”
The researchers also observed variations in driver behavior. Drivers tended to slow down when nearing distracted pedestrians, showing an awareness of the heightened risk associated with their erratic movements.
This research utilized a computer vision system created at UBC alongside artificial intelligence models to scrutinize traffic video from two busy intersections in downtown Vancouver. The analysis focused on distracted pedestrians—those engaged in texting, reading, talking on phones, or listening to music—versus undistracted pedestrians, as well as instances of traffic conflict, where pedestrians and vehicles are on a potential collision course.
The results can enhance pedestrian safety frameworks and interventions aimed at mitigating traffic dangers. “For instance, we can address the risks associated with distracted walking and develop safer infrastructures by tweaking crosswalk signal timings or implementing auditory signals to inform pedestrians when it’s their turn to cross. City planners might also consider issuing warnings designed for pedestrians engrossed in their phones—potentially introducing notifications that discourage phone use while crossing,” explained co-author Tala Alsharif, a civil engineering graduate student at UBC.
The findings may also aid in designing infrastructure by pinpointing high-risk areas that should be designated as mobile-free zones and integrating solutions like sensor-based alert systems to reduce distractions. In places with frequent pedestrian distractions, elevated crosswalks could enhance pedestrian visibility to drivers.
“By integrating our discoveries into forthcoming research and traffic management strategies, we can better evaluate pedestrian hazards and create approaches to enhance road safety,” stated Gabriel Lanzaro, a civil engineering graduate student at UBC and co-author of the study.
