Journal article
Distracted pedestrian behavior: An observational study of risk by situational environments
Traffic injury prevention, Vol.23(6), pp.346-351
2022
DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2022.2076282
PMCID: PMC10413048
PMID: 35617465
Abstract
Objective Pedestrian-related death rates are increasing in the United States, partly due to increased use of distracting smartphones by pedestrians. Previous research documents high frequency of smartphone use while crossing streets near college campuses and in downtown business districts, but little is known about distracted pedestrian behavior in other urban environments. The current study used observational methods to examine and compare distracted pedestrian behavior in four urban areas - near an urban college campus, in a downtown commercial business district, near middle and high schools, and in entertainment districts - as well as examining whether the occurrence of distraction was associated with unsafe crossing behaviors. Methods We observed 112 intersections in 46 downtown, 30 school, 25 entertainment district, and 11 college campus-area intersections. Coders recorded distraction, crossing safety, pedestrian demographics, and traffic volume. Chi-square tests compared pedestrian characteristics by intersection type. Log binomial regressions estimated risk ratios (RRs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between pedestrians walking alone and traffic volume with distracted crossing behavior, adjusting for age and gender. Similar models examined risk of unsafe crossing behavior by distraction behavior. All models were stratified by intersection type. Results Distraction incidence was highest in campus locations (52.9%) and lowest in entertainment districts (16.2%). Walking alone was associated with a 45% higher risk of distraction (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.30-1.62), although the increased association was limited to entertainment locations (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.25-2.08) and was significantly decreased in all other locations. Higher traffic volume was associated with lower risk of distraction in downtown locations (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56-0.85) but higher distraction risk in entertainment locations (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.27-2.31). Associations between distraction and unsafe crossing behaviors were minimal. Conclusion Distracted pedestrian behavior occurs at different rates and in different circumstances, depending on the setting. These results offer valuable data to inform intervention programs that target appropriate populations in appropriate locations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Distracted pedestrian behavior: An observational study of risk by situational environments
- Creators
- David C. Schwebel - University of Alabama at BirminghamMargaret F. Canter - University of Alabama at BirminghamRagib Hasan - University of Alabama at BirminghamRussell Griffin - University of Alabama at BirminghamTaylor R. White - University of Alabama at BirminghamAnna Johnston - University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Traffic injury prevention, Vol.23(6), pp.346-351
- DOI
- 10.1080/15389588.2022.2076282
- PMID
- 35617465
- PMCID
- PMC10413048
- NLM abbreviation
- Traffic Inj Prev
- ISSN
- 1538-9588
- eISSN
- 1538-957X
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grant note
- UAB Youth Safety Lab team SCC-PG 1952090 / National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF) R21HD095270 / Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health City of Birmingham Department of Transportation
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2022
- Academic Unit
- Research Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984949474402771
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