When you’re out on the street, it’s common to see people scrolling through their phone. Phone use on the go can be distracting, which is why government advisor Shaun Helman is proposing a radical way to redesign the UK’s streets. Helman believes road signs and lights should be embedded into the pavement to stop “zombie pedestrians” stepping out in front of cars.
Helman said that putting important signs on the floor could help reduce pedestrian casualties caused by phone use. This could mean putting road signs on the pavement, adding lights to a kerb or painting guidelines for people who are looking at their phones.
As chief transportation scientist at the Transport Research Laboratory, Helman advises governments around the world. “If we are thinking about injury prevention and the dominant ‘safe system’ approach used within road safety, there is actually a strong case for redesigning infrastructure over relying on other methods of changing behaviour. The important thing is that the system as a whole is designed to ensure the chances of serious injury is minimised.”
“Thus, if we are to provide information to people dependent on where they are looking, it is vital that this information is placed at points where important decisions need to be made, such as junctions.”
Helman’s suggestions are reminiscent of what is going on in countries like China and Holland. Six towns and cities in Holland are currently installing LED lights into kerbs at junctions. The lights flash red when it’s not safe to cross. The technology, provided by HIG, was successfully trialled before use. A German city has also installed traffic lights in the pavement.
In some Chinese cities, there are designated ‘zombie pedestrian’ lanes for people who can’t stop looking at their phones. The lanes are painted with arrows to keep them heading in the right direction.
