Using Bluetooth Beacon Technology to Reduce Distracted Pedestrian Behavior
Over 4,800 American pedestrians die annually (CDC, 2017), a figure that is current increasing. One
hypothesized reason for the increasing trend in pedestrian injuries and deaths is the role of mobile technology
in distracting both pedestrians and drivers. Existing behavioral interventions to reduce distracted pedestrian
behavior are few. We propose to develop and then evaluate Bluetooth beacon technology as a means to alert
and warn pedestrians when they are approaching dangerous intersections, reminding them to attend to the
traffic environment and cross the street safely rather than engaging with mobile technology. Our proposed
research will be conducted in three phases: (a) technology development, (b) internal testing, and (c) crossover
research trial to evaluate efficacy of the program.
Bluetooth beacons are very small (about the size of a dime) and inexpensive (~$20 range) devices that
broadcast information unidirectionally (beacon to smartphone) within a closed proximal network. We propose
placing beacons at intersection corners (e.g., on signposts) frequently trafficked by urban college students. The
beacons will transmit to an app installed on users’ smartphones, signaling users to attend to their environment
and cross the street safely. The app will be developed to be flexible based on user preferences (e.g., visual
warnings, aural warnings, vibrations, phone screen frozen); for research purposes, the app also will download
data concerning the users’ behavior while crossing the street (e.g., user stops using phone, puts phone in
pocket, text-messages, leaves music playing, etc.). Iterative internal pilot-testing will improve the app, and then
we will conduct a small pilot study (N=30) to gather further data for refinement. Following this, a crossover trial
will evaluate the app with a sample of 411 young adults whose behavior is monitored for: (a) 3 weeks without
the app being activated, (b) 3 weeks with the app activated, and then (c) 6 weeks without the app activated to
assess retention of behavior. Throughout the 12 week period, we will monitor user behavior at multiple
intersections around campus, along with gathering self-report questionnaire perceptions and behavior at
baseline and 12-week post-intervention assessments.