Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Information System to Enhance Road Safety Level for Pedestrians in China

Abstract

Pedestrians’ unsafe behavior is one of the most critical factors causing traffic incidents in China. The primary objective of this study is to explore the cause of pedestrians’ unsafe behavior and provide possible solutions. We interviewed pedestrians and experts to investigate pedestrians’ unsafe behaviors. Results from interviews indicated that pedestrians were likely to exhibit unsafe behavior at intersections owing to use of smartphones, reluctance to obey the rules, and unawareness of risk. According to the experts, attracting the attention of pedestrians and guiding them to exhibit safe behaviors can improve their safety. Based on these results, we designed “LookMe,” which is a multimedia information system placed at the intersections, to guide pedestrians across the road and improve their experience of waiting in traffic. The results of user tests indicated that pedestrians had relatively high acceptance of LookMe. Moreover, participants wanted to see diverse multimedia information on the screen of LookMe such as news, videos, maps, and traffic information. Findings from this study can be useful in understanding why Chinese pedestrians exhibit unsafe behaviors and proposing effective solutions to enhance their safety.