Enhancing Transportation Safety for At-Risk Road Users through Behavioral Monitoring and Smart Infrastructure
Improving roadway safety for at-risk road users, specifically pedestrians, requires proactive strategies grounded in both technology and behavior science. This project focuses on enhancing transportation safety for at-risk road users, specifically pedestrians, by addressing distraction-related behaviors in high-risk environments such as crosswalks and intersections where user inattention or distraction commonly results in close calls or injuries. With mobile device usage increasingly contributing to inattention, the initiative seeks to proactively reduce incidents through a combination of behavioral, technological, educational, and policy-focused strategies. The research team will design and test a suite of integrated tools, ranging from mobile technology to educational outreach, aimed at improving situational awareness, reducing risky behaviors, and informing local safety strategies. Central to this effort is a smartphone application that delivers real-time alerts, via both phones and smartwatches, prompting pedestrians to stay attentive while crossing streets. A complementary behavioral study will use wearable devices and real-time diary entries to examine how social interactions and group dynamics influence pedestrian attention. These findings will inform targeted nudges and feedback to reduce distraction and improve coordination in group settings. To support long-term impact, policy recommendations will be developed through a comprehensive review of existing regulations and direct input from key stakeholders, including planners, law enforcement, and transportation safety experts. Surveys and interviews will help shape an enforceable framework for managing pedestrian distraction in high-risk areas. Educational efforts will engage students in hands-on research, data collection, and community outreach, building technical skills while increasing public awareness around distracted walking. Together, these efforts offer a proactive and scalable approach to improving the safety of at-risk road users in urban environments
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $100,000.00
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348323
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
2400 6th Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20059 -
Project Managers:
Bruner, Britain
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Performing Organizations:
2400 6th Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20059 -
Principal Investigators:
Marin-Artieda, Claudia
- Start Date: 20250601
- Expected Completion Date: 20260601
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Alertness; Crosswalks; Distraction; Intersections; Mobile applications; Pedestrian movement; Pedestrian safety
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01958088
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Research and Education for Promoting Safety (REPS) University Transportation Center
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348323
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Jun 16 2025 3:04PM