Evaluating the Effectiveness of Auxiliary Devices in Enhancing Pedestrian Safety at Signalized Pedestrian Crossings

Abstract

Pedestrian safety is a critical concern, particularly in urban environments where pedestrian-related accidents constitute a significant proportion of road traffic accidents. In Hong Kong, a densely populated city, pedestrian fatalities accounted for 60% of all traffic deaths in 2022. To address this issue, a six-month trial of auxiliary devices that project a red light synchronized with pedestrian signals was initiated and installed at four selected pedestrian crossings. To evaluate the effectiveness of these devices, on-site video observation surveys were conducted before and after their installation, capturing the behavior of 20,080 pedestrians. Data analysis included Pearson’s chi-square tests and binary logistic regression models to assess the impact of these devices on pedestrian crossing behavior. The results indicate a negative correlation between the installation of these devices and the likelihood of pedestrian red-light running, with an observed reduction of over 25% in this unsafe crossing behavior. Based on these findings, this study recommends expanding the deployment of these devices at more signalized pedestrian crossings to improve pedestrian safety throughout the city. Priority locations for implementation include those with high accident rates, short or narrow crossings, and long pedestrian waiting times.