Smartphone Use in Traffic: A Pilot Study on Pedestrian Behavior

Abstract

Mobile phones accompany us in every area of life and at the same time keep us busy while performing other basic activities such as running, cycling, driving or walking in traffic. The problem of using cell phones while driving is of interest to many scientists around the world. This offense is severely punished in many countries. The problem of using mobile phones in moving vehicles has been largely resolved; however, there is a visible high percentage of pedestrians and cyclists who are used to checking their devices while moving in traffic. The aim of the article is to get acquainted with the issues of using mobile phones by pedestrians when crossing a pedestrian crossing and to escalate the problem. Despite the introduction of a ban on the use of mobile phones when crossing a pedestrian crossing in the Polish law on road traffic, many road users still use phones. The conducted observation shows that at least 2 out of 10 people pass through the pedestrian crossing with a mobile phone in their hand.