New report shows extent of pedestrian distraction and smartphone use on Melbourne streets - Monash Uni - 20 Oct 2022

An observational study by MUARC has found that around 20 per cent of pedestrians in Melbourne are distracted by smartphones.

A total of 4,129 pedestrians were observed across eight locations between September 2017 and June 2019, with the findings publicly released in a new report through MUARC’s Baseline Research Program.

Researchers observed 814 pedestrians (20%) using a portable device while walking, with headphone use and texting/interacting with a device (38% and 37% respectively) the most prominent behaviours.

Thirty-one per cent of those distracted pedestrians were involved in a safety-critical incident.  The most common of these events was failing to conduct a head check before crossing the road. Forty-two per cent of smartphone users committed this error, compared to 26% of non-smartphone users.

“This project allowed us to build an evidence base for Victorian-based countermeasures that can target behaviours performed by pedestrians., says report author Dr Kristie Young.

“It was one of the first in-depth studies to look at pedestrian smartphone distraction, its frequency, and the types of smartphone tasks they were doing while walking and crossing roads.”

The report recommended numerous countermeasures in the categories of infrastructure, technology, regulation, and behaviour (i.e. education campaigns).

“An example of one of the infrastructure-based measures was separating pedestrians and vehicles at key safety-critical points in the road network, such as around train stations and shopping centres where there’s high traffic and pedestrian volumes,” Dr Young explains.

“We also looked at things like having flashing signage on the pavement approaching safety-critical areas. When people are walking and looking at their phones they’re usually looking down, so pavement signage would be highly-visible and alert them to become aware of their surroundings.”

Regulatory countermeasures would prohibit pedestrians from using smartphone in high-traffic volumes areas, while proposed technological countermeasures would see smartphones send an alert to pedestrians when approaching a potentially hazardous part of the road network.  Education initiatives recommended by the report would include a school program that provides students with positive messaging about good pedestrian behaviour.

Dr Young says pedestrians were consulted during the research project and the intention of the recommendations is to provide them with an “error-tolerant” transport system.

“We developed these countermeasures in conjunction with road safety experts but also pedestrians themselves through interviews and focus groups. That was really important to get the perspective from people who actually live these experiences and ask what measures would work for them,” she said.

“There’s no silver bullet. It’s going to take a holistic, multi-faceted approach to tackle the issue.”

To view the full report, please click here.