Pedestrian Safety and Distraction: A Contemporary Perspective

Abstract

The present study, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, aims to provide a contemporary perspective on the issue of pedestrian safety and distraction. The review was conducted using a systematic search strategy and included studies published between 2005 and 2022. A total of 250 studies were identified from the literature search on Google Scholar, EBSCO, Scopus, Web of Science etc., from which 30 studies were scrutinized for the final comprehensive study. The five study components considered for categorizing research papers were the frequency of mobile phone distraction, observational sites, performance measures, analysis methodologies, and other features related to mobile phone use among pedestrians. Most of the investigations were conducted in China and Australia. Numerous studies have examined factors like age and gender that may affect pedestrian behavior. The highest numbers of studies were conducted in 2022, 2021, and 2019, while the fewest studies were conducted in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2015, and 2017. Road junctions were the most common observation sites. Regression analysis was the primary method used in most of the studies. The review highlights the need for further research on this topic, particularly in the context of emerging technologies and changing pedestrian behaviors. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of continued efforts to raise awareness and improve pedestrian safety in an increasingly distracted world.