Customized Signalized Intersection Control for Pedestrian Safety Enhancement through Computer Vision Technologies

The escalating complexity at intersections challenges the safety of the interaction between vehicles and pedestrians, especially for those with mobility impairments. Traditional traffic control systems detect pedestrians through costly technologies such as LiDAR and radar, limiting their adoption due to high costs and static programming. Therefore, the article proposes a customized signalized intersection control (CSIC) algorithm for pedestrian safety enhancement. This algorithm integrates advanced computer vision (CV) algorithms to detect, track, and predict pedestrian movements in real time, enhancing safety at a signalized intersection while remaining economically viable and easily integrated into existing infrastructure. Implemented at a key intersection in Bellevue, the CSIC system achieves a 100% pedestrian passing rate while simultaneously minimizing the average remaining walk time after crossings. The algorithm used in this study demonstrates the potential of combining CV with traditional traffic control mechanisms to create safer urban traffic environments for all road users.