Bluetooth Beacon Technology Could Decrease Pedestrian Injuries, Deaths

By Alicia Rohan

More than 4,800 pedestrians are killed in the U.S. annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham looks at the reasons for the increasing trend in pedestrian injuries and deaths and how mobile technology, such as cell phones, can distract both pedestrians and drivers.

“We continuously see pedestrians walking across streets while using their smartphones and not paying attention to their surroundings,” said David Schwebel, Ph.D., associate dean for Research in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences. “Interventions to reduce distractions while walking across the street are few and far between. Our team is looking to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Bluetooth beacon technology to provide warnings to pedestrians who may be in danger of getting hurt or even dying.”

The Bluetooth beacon technology will alert and warn pedestrians when they are approaching dangerous intersections, reminding them to be alert to the traffic environment and to cross the street safely rather than engaging with mobile technology.

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