New research from the University of British Columbia (UBC) has confirmed that distracted pedestrians, such as those texting or using their phones while walking, are at a higher risk of accidents compared to those paying attention to their surroundings.
This study, published in Accident Analysis and Prevention, used real-life data to analyze pedestrian interactions with vehicles in busy areas, highlighting the dangers of being distracted while crossing streets.
Previous studies suggested that pedestrians using their phones are more likely to be hit by cars because they may not notice oncoming traffic or may step outside of designated crosswalks.
The new UBC research supports these claims, finding that distracted pedestrians are less aware of their surroundings, don’t adjust their speed or path as much as they should, and as a result, increase their risk of dangerous interactions with vehicles by 45%.
Lead researcher Dr. Tarek Sayed, a civil engineering professor and expert in transportation safety, explained that non-distracted pedestrians made safer choices when dealing with traffic.
They kept a safer distance from vehicles, yielded more often to oncoming cars, and adjusted their walking speed when necessary.
Distracted pedestrians, on the other hand, made fewer changes to their behavior, increasing their chances of near misses or accidents.
Interestingly, the study also found that drivers often adjusted their behavior when approaching distracted pedestrians. They would slow down, recognizing the unpredictability of the pedestrians’ movements.
The study was conducted using advanced technology, including a computer vision system and artificial intelligence (AI) models to analyze video footage from two busy intersections in downtown Vancouver. The researchers focused on comparing distracted pedestrians—those texting, reading, talking on the phone, or listening to music—to undistracted pedestrians. They also studied traffic conflicts, where vehicles and pedestrians were at risk of colliding.
The findings suggest ways to improve pedestrian safety in the future. According to Tala Alsharif, a co-author and graduate student at UBC, cities could adjust crosswalk signal timing or add audio signals to help distracted pedestrians know when to cross. Cities could even develop phone notifications that stop people from using their devices while crossing the street.
Other potential solutions include marking high-risk areas as phone-free zones or using sensor-based systems to alert distracted pedestrians and drivers of possible dangers. Raised crosswalks could also make pedestrians more visible to drivers.
By applying these insights to city planning and future research, the team hopes to improve road safety and reduce the risks posed by distracted walking.
