Journal article
Do Augmented Reality Cues Aid Pedestrians in Crossing Multiple Lanes of Traffic? A Virtual Reality Study
Human factors, Vol.67(8), pp.823-835
08/2025
DOI: 10.1177/00187208251320907
PMID: 39992079
Abstract
This study evaluated whether pedestrians can use augmented reality (AR) overlays to guide their road-crossing decisions when crossing two lanes of opposing traffic.
Emerging technologies for enhancing traffic safety often focus on alerting drivers to hazards. Less attention has been given to understanding how pedestrians respond to technology designed to aid their road-crossing decisions, particularly in more complex traffic.
Participants repeatedly crossed two lanes of opposing traffic displayed in a virtual reality system. Participants in the AR condition viewed matching-colored bars (AR overlays) suspended just above the gaps between cars where there was sufficient time to safely cross a pair of near and far lane gaps. Participants in the control condition performed the same road-crossing task but saw no AR overlays.
Participants who viewed AR cues were more likely than participants who did not view AR cues to accept gap pairs classified as crossable and less likely to accept gap pairs classified as uncrossable. However, there was no difference between the AR and control conditions in time to spare when exiting the roadway. NASA Task Load Index (2020) responses indicated that perceived performance was higher and perceived frustration was lower in the AR than control condition, but perceived workload was higher in the AR condition.
The AR cues helped participants identify crossable gap pairs but did not lead to greater time to spare when exiting the roadway.
These results show both the promise and risks of assistive technologies designed to increase pedestrian safety in more complex traffic situations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Do Augmented Reality Cues Aid Pedestrians in Crossing Multiple Lanes of Traffic? A Virtual Reality Study
- Creators
- Jeehan Malik - University of IowaElizabeth O'Neal - University of IowaMegan Noonan - University of IowaIman Noferesti - University of IowaNam-Yoon Kim - University of IowaWilliam Pixley - University of IowaJodie M Plumert - University of IowaJoseph K Kearney - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Human factors, Vol.67(8), pp.823-835
- DOI
- 10.1177/00187208251320907
- PMID
- 39992079
- NLM abbreviation
- Hum Factors
- ISSN
- 0018-7208
- eISSN
- 1547-8181
- Publisher
- SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
- Grant note
- Safety Research using Simulation (SAFER-SIM) University Transportation Center at the University of IowaU.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers Program: 69A3551747131
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was funded by the Safety Research using Simulation (SAFER-SIM) University Transportation Center at the University of Iowa. SAFER-SIM is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers Program (69A3551747131). However, the U.S. Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 02/24/2025
- Date published
- 08/2025
- Academic Unit
- Office Of The Provost; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Driving Safety Research Institute; Injury Prevention Research Center; Computer Science; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984795374602771
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