top of page
Search

Understanding Road Safety Challenges in PMR Deployment: A Critical Research Gap

Author: Bern Grush

Date: January 30, 2025


The integration of public-area mobile robots (PMRs) into urban environments presents complex safety challenges that extend far beyond sidewalk navigation. While considerable research has focused on PMR-pedestrian interactions on sidewalks, there is a critical shortage of comprehensive studies examining road safety implications, particularly at urban intersections where multiple modes of transportation converge.



Urban intersections represent complex interaction points where PMRs must safely coexist with motor vehicles, cyclists, micromobility users, pedestrians, and vulnerable road users (VRUs) including those using wheelchairs or white canes. The current research gap is particularly concerning given the unique challenges PMRs present at these crossings. For instance, their lower profile and novel movement patterns may not align with drivers' existing expectations and visual scanning patterns, especially during right-turn-on-red maneuvers where drivers typically focus on larger, human-sized objects.


Several critical safety scenarios remain understudied. When a PMR encounters a vehicle turning right on red, its visibility to the driver becomes a crucial factor. The optimal positioning of PMRs at crosswalks – ensuring they don't obstruct access to pedestrian signal buttons while maintaining their own safe waiting position – requires careful consideration. These positioning challenges become even more critical for VRUs who require unimpeded access to crossing infrastructure. Additionally, the appropriate PMR response when partially through an intersection and confronted by an encroaching vehicle demands thorough investigation and standardization.


Gathering Empirical Data to improve Safety

The shortage of empirical data presents a significant research challenge. With relatively few PMRs currently deployed, gathering comprehensive field data across the wide variety of potential interaction scenarios is impractical. This limitation highlights the vital role of simulation studies in understanding and defining safe PMR behavior parameters. Simulation environments can systematically evaluate various scenarios, testing different behavioral rules, infrastructure modifications, and signage requirements before real-world implementation.


Desk research serves as a crucial foundation for this work, helping to identify the full spectrum of safety considerations that must be addressed. This includes analyzing existing traffic patterns, studying human behavior at intersections, and reviewing current regulatory frameworks for other road users. Such research is essential for developing both effective simulation parameters and informed regulatory guidance. It can help determine which intersections are suitable for PMR crossing, what infrastructure modifications might be necessary, and what new protocols or signage systems might be required.


Regulatory Implications

The regulatory implications of this research gap are significant. Without comprehensive understanding of PMR-vehicle interactions at intersections, it becomes challenging to develop appropriate road-safety standards and operational guidelines. This includes determining when and how PMRs should signal their intentions to cross, establishing right-of-way protocols, and defining minimum visibility requirements. V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication systems may play a crucial role, but their implementation must be guided by thorough research into the specific needs and challenges of PMR road crossing.


Moreover, the impact of PMRs on existing traffic systems requires careful consideration. Their presence may necessitate adjustments to traffic signal timing, modifications to intersection design, and updates to driver training programs. The integration of PMRs must be managed in a way that enhances rather than compromises the safety of all road users, particularly VRUs who may be most affected by changes to crossing infrastructure and protocols.


Urgency of Addressing Research Gaps

As cities move toward broader PMR deployment, addressing these research gaps becomes increasingly urgent. The development of evidence-based safety protocols and regulations requires a comprehensive understanding of the challenges at road intersections. This understanding must encompass not only the technical capabilities of PMRs but also their impact on human behavior and existing traffic patterns. Only through systematic research combining desk studies, simulations, and carefully designed field trials can we develop the knowledge needed to ensure safe PMR integration into our urban transportation systems.


The ultimate goal must be to create a regulatory framework that promotes innovation while ensuring the safety of all road users. This requires moving beyond the current focus on sidewalk interactions to address the full complexity of PMR operation in urban environments, particularly at the critical juncture of road intersections where the greatest potential for safety incidents exists.


About URF

The Urban Robotics Foundation (URF) is a membership-supported, non-profit organization focused on stakeholder engagement and preparing cities and regional governments for the safe deployment of public-area mobile robots. Bern Grush is the Executive Director of URF. He founded URF in 2021 and is the global lead for drafting ISO-4448 - the new deployment standard for "Intelligent transport systems — Public-area Mobile Robots (PMRs)" - the first part of which was published in 2024. We invite you to join URF!


For additional perspective on the importance of planning for intersection safety, please read this March 2024 blog post: https://www.urbanroboticsfoundation.org/post/why-intersection-management-is-critical-to-successful-deployment-of-pmrs

14 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentarios


Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign me up! I’d like to receive occasional news and updates from URF.

Thanks for subscribing!

Follow us on social media:

 

515 Rosewell Ave, Toronto ON Canada M4R 2J3

© 2023-2025, Urban Robotics Foundation

  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
bottom of page