SMART PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

ABSTRACT

Every year, every third traffic accident refers to pedestrian arrivals. The main reasons for which are: non-compliance with the rules of the road, the unsatisfactory condition of pedestrian crossings, elements of arrangement, or their absence and psycho-physiological factors. We have proposed a method for equipping pedestrian crossings with motion sensors, an independent power source, and LED strips in yellow and red colors to attract drivers' attention, taking into account the dry and hot climate of the Fergana Valley. This method has been tested at the Namangan State Technical University. The proposed pedestrian crossing is intended for unlit streets in residential areas and intercity roads.

АННОТАЦИЯ

Ежегодно каждое третье дорожно-транспортное происшествие относится к наездам на пешеходов. Основным причинами, которых являются: несоблюдение правил дорожного движения, неудовлетворительное состояние пешеходных переходов, элементов обустройства, либо их отсутствие и психофизиологические факторы. Нами предложена методика оборудования пешеходных переходов датчиками движения, независимым источником питания, светодиодными лентами желтого и красного цветов для привлечения внимания водителей с учетом сухого и жаркого климата ферганской долины. Данная методика опробована на базе Наманганского государственного технического университета. Данный пешеходный переход предназначен для неосвещенных улиц в населенных пунктах и междугородских дорог.

Keywords: pedestrian crossings; security; traffic accidents; traffic light; road markings; road fencing.

Ключевые слова: пешеходные переходы; безопасность; дорожно-транспортные происшествия; светофор; дорожная разметка; дорожные ограждения.

Introduction

Every year, there are about 3 thousand collisions with pedestrians, which accounts for every third road traffic accident (RTA). This year, there has been a downward trend in the number of RTAs, despite this, in 2023, there were 9 thousand RTAs, of which pedestrians were involved in 2.3 thousand. The above data exceeds the statistical data of European countries by 3-4 times [1]. The main reasons for collisions with pedestrians include: - failure to comply with traffic rules, most often occurring due to the fault of drivers; - unsatisfactory condition of the pedestrian crossing and its equipment. It has been proven that every sixth RTA involving a pedestrian at a pedestrian crossing occurs for this very reason; - psychophysiological factors of the pedestrian, such as the natural desire to save time by choosing the shortest route, thereby violating traffic rules . The placement of technical means for organizing pedestrian traffic must be designed taking into account their quick and clear perception; − weather conditions: rain, mud, fog, etc.; − large vehicles blocking the pedestrian crossing sign; − unsatisfactory condition of vehicles, especially during the spring-autumn mud season [2]. To ensure safety, it is necessary to install the visibility triangle (Fig. 1). Quite often, when installing it, opposite requirements are put forward for reasons of convenience [3, 4].

Figure 1. Visibility triangle

Materials and methods

According to the presence of regulation, road accidents occur at unregulated pedestrian crossings at the same level as the roadway. An unregulated pedestrian crossing is a section of the roadway intended for pedestrians to cross the roadway and designated by road signs "Pedestrian crossing" and/or horizontal road markings [5]. In order to improve road safety and reduce accidents on the roads, including at pedestrian crossings in cities. The most common elements of the arrangement include:

1. Technical means for informing, visually orienting road users and regulating traffic include:

• Road sign - a technical means of organizing traffic with designations and/or inscriptions informing road users about road conditions and traffic modes, the location of populated areas and other objects.

• Road markings - lines, inscriptions and other markings on the roadway, artificial structures and road structure elements, informing road users about the conditions and traffic modes on the road section.

• Traffic light - a light signaling device used to regulate the order of passage of vehicles and pedestrians. More and more new types of traffic lights are appearing, for example - animated fitness traffic lights, traffic lights in addition to different colors also of different shapes for people with color vision impairments, traffic lights in the form of an electronic hourglass.

2. Means of organizing the movement of pedestrians and cyclists:

• Sidewalk - an engineering structure with an improved surface, intended for the movement of pedestrians in populated areas, located in the right-of-way and on the roadbed or roadside strip of a highway, as well as part of the road on bridges and other artificial structures.

• Bicycle path - a separate road or part of a road intended for cyclists and equipped with appropriate technical means of organizing traffic.

• Pedestrian path - an engineering structure placed outside the roadbed, intended for the movement of pedestrians outside populated areas in the right-of-way or roadside strip of a highway.

• Pedestrian crossing - an engineering structure or section of the roadway designated by road signs and/or markings for pedestrians to cross the road [6]. Pedestrian crossings can be divided into several types: a simple pedestrian crossing usually includes a pedestrian crossing sign and a zebra road marking, rubber pedestrian crossings - as practice shows, this type of pedestrian crossing is much more effective than traditional road markings. It is made of frost-resistant high-quality rubber, characterized by its improved resistance to mechanical abrasion, atmospheric conditions, and the effects of salts and oils. At the same time, a small elevation is created on the road surface, which clearly differentiates the boundaries of the pedestrian crossing and the roadway [7].

• Intelligent pedestrian crossing or pedestrian crossing indication system - this pedestrian crossing system is designed to illuminate and enhance the visual perception of unregulated pedestrian crossings by drivers at night. The system consists of the following components: a "pedestrian crossing" road sign with constant LED illumination of the sign field and flashing illumination of the yellow outline of the sign, a pedestrian presence detector in the crossing preparation zone, an uninterruptible battery power supply system, a wireless synchronization kit for switching on signs and lighting, LED street lamps with lighting stands, autonomous solar panels, and pedestrian call buttons. Thanks to this approach, the effect of the driver getting used to the constantly flashing traffic light is eliminated and the driver's vigilance when activating the system is significantly increased. Pedestrian crossing lighting is an integral part of pedestrian safety [8]. According to statistics, collisions with pedestrians at night account for 39.5% of all accidents, which exceeds the daytime figure by approximately 10%.

3. Devices for influencing vehicles:

• Prefabricated artificial unevenness - specially constructed elevations on the roadway to force a reduction in traffic speed, located perpendicular to the axis of the road, subject to disassembly if necessary without damage. It is made of high-strength rubber and assembled on site from separate parts - working and end elements [9].

• Noise strip - an element of the arrangement on the road surface or directly in the coating layer of the road structural elements, causing vibration of the vehicle suspension elements and increased noise, forcing drivers to reduce their speed and increase their attention. The noise strip is a rubber monolithic strip 120 mm wide and 20 mm high. Its length is from 150 cm. The strips are located on the road surface sequentially across its entire width. Depending on the speed limit, three to six strips are usually installed.

4. Protective devices:

• Road barrier - a device for preventing vehicles from entering the roadway, bridges, overpasses, and also stopping them before railway crossings when traffic lights indicate prohibition.

• Road fencing is a device designed to ensure the movement of vehicles with the least risk of collisions and road exits, to prevent crossing the dividing strip, collisions with oncoming vehicles, collisions with massive obstacles and structures located on the side of the road in the right-of-way of the road, on the dividing strip, to reduce the risk of pedestrians falling from the road or bridge structure, as well as to regulate the movement of pedestrians and prevent animals from entering the roadway.

Results and discussions

The smart intersection is a section of LED panels, the approach of people is identified by an electronic sensor, then an interactive display is triggered, showing the safest route to cross and warning drivers and cyclists about pedestrians ahead on the road.

The crossing we developed is designed to work outside of populated areas on roads without street lighting. The smart crossing is waterproof, can support the weight of vehicles, and can recognize the difference between pedestrians, cars, and cyclists.

Figure 2. Smart transition

Figure 3. Smart Transition LEDs

The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has developed the "Three I's" strategy (innovation, infrastructure, incentives), a comprehensive approach based on the relationship between the human factor, the vehicle and the infrastructure.

Figure 4. Smart transition at night

Conclusion

Despite all the above innovations, pedestrians remain one of the most vulnerable categories of road users [10], since a comprehensive approach to solving this problem is required, including regulatory documents that precisely define the application of previously considered measures to ensure pedestrian safety, the installation of additional lighting, traffic lights, road markings and other elements for all groups of pedestrians, the implementation of social campaigns and actions aimed at improving pedestrian safety and respectful attitudes towards all road users and maintaining the required maintenance of ground pedestrian crossings and their arrangement.

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