Evaluation of driver performance with a prototype cyber physical mid-block crossing advanced warning system

Area of Science:

• Transportation Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Cyber-Physical Systems

Background:

• Pedestrian fatalities at mid-block crossings are rising.
• Existing safety infrastructure is often costly and limited in scope.
• Connected vehicle technologies offer a novel approach to enhance road safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, develop, and deploy a pedestrian-to-vehicle (P2V) communication system.
• To analyze driver reactions to in-vehicle advanced warning messages.
• To assess the impact of P2V communication on driver awareness and technology acceptance.

Main Methods:

• A cyber-physical P2V system was implemented within the cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) environment.
• Human subjects were tested at a mid-block crosswalk, with and without advanced warning messages.
• Data collected included driver reaction, acceptance, speed, and eye-tracking metrics.

Main Results:

• Drivers were significantly more likely to stop for pedestrians when receiving advanced warning messages (2.44x during the day, 1.79x at night).
• Driver age, time of day, and the presence of warning messages strongly influenced stopping behavior (p < 0.02).
• The P2V system demonstrated a positive impact on driver behavior and pedestrian intent recognition.

Conclusions:

• Advanced warning messages via C-V2X technology effectively improve pedestrian safety at mid-block crossings.
• Smart device-based P2V communication provides a viable, cost-effective safety solution.
• City planners should consider implementing geofenced P2V systems at crosswalks to enhance safety.