Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Distracted Pedestrian Intervention

ABSTRACT Objective Cellphone ubiquity has increased distracted pedestrian behavior and contributed to growing pedestrian injury rates. A major barrier to large-scale implementation of prevention programs is unavailable information on potential net monetary benefits. We evaluated net economic benefits of StreetBit, a program that reduces distracted pedestrian behavior by sending warnings from intersection-installed Bluetooth beacons to distracted pedestrians’ smartphones. Methods Three data sources were used: (1) fatal, severe, non-severe pedestrian injury rates from Alabama’s electronic crash-reporting-system; (2) expected costs per fatal, severe, non-severe pedestrian injury – including medical cost, value of statistical life, work-loss cost, quality-of-life cost – from CDC; and (3) prevalence of distracted walking from extant literature. We computed and compared estimated monetary costs of distracted walking in Alabama and monetary benefits from implementing StreetBit to reduce pedestrian injuries at intersections. Results Over 2019-2021, Alabama recorded an annual average of 31 fatal, 83 severe, and 115 non-severe pedestrian injuries in intersections. Expected costs/injury were $11 million, $339,535, and $93,877, respectively. The estimated range of distracted walking prevalence is 25%-40%, and StreetBit demonstrates 19.1% (95%CI: 1.6%-36.0%) reduction. These figures demonstrate potential annual cost savings from using interventions like StreetBit statewide ranging from $18.1-$29 million. Potential costs range from $3,208,600 (beacons at every-fourth urban intersection) to $6,359,200 (every other intersection). Conclusions Even under the most parsimonious scenario (25% distracted pedestrians; densest beacon placement), StreetBit yields $11.8 million estimated net annual benefit. Existing data sources can be leveraged to predict net monetary benefits of distracted pedestrian interventions like StreetBit and facilitate large-scale intervention adoption. SUMMARY What is already known in this topic Smartphone-related distraction is a likely contributing factor to the increasing rate of pedestrian fatalities and injuries in the US. However, interventions to reduce pedestrian distraction have not been widely adapted. What this study adds One barrier to widespread adaption is lack of information on benefits versus costs. This study examines the economic costs and benefits of an intervention that reduces distracted walking to increase pedestrian safety, and provides a template showing how existing data sources can be leveraged to do similar analyses for other interventions designed to reduce pedestrian safety. How this study might affect research, practice or policy The template developed in this study can facilitate large-scale implementation of any intervention designed to prevent pedestrian fatalities and injuries by providing policymakers information on net benefits of the intervention.