"Don't Worry About Children's Traffic Accidents Anymore"... Daegu City Launches Full Operation of 20 AI Smart Crosswalks

Daegu City will officially launch a smart crosswalk service using artificial intelligence technology to enhance pedestrian safety.

The smart crosswalk service installs AI-based cameras at both ends of crosswalks within school zones, automatically detecting pedestrians and providing voice warnings to prevent traffic accidents.

Smart crosswalk installed in front of Posan Elementary School, Dalseong-gun, Daegu.

If a pedestrian attempting to cross the street steps outside the safe zone and tries to jaywalk, a voice message saying “It is dangerous, please move to the sidewalk” will alert them of the risk. If the remaining green light time is insufficient for the pedestrian to cross, a voice guide saying “Please cross at the next signal” will be issued.

When a pedestrian does not have enough time to reach the opposite side while crossing, the green light duration is slightly extended to help the pedestrian cross safely.

All these services are made possible by cameras equipped with AI technology that automatically recognize pedestrians and learn their behavior patterns.

The system automatically captures the pedestrian’s location and actions at both edges of the crosswalk and issues pre-set warnings if they leave the safe zone or exhibit other risky behaviors. This service was installed in school zones around schools in consultation with the Daegu Police Agency.

Conceptual Diagram of Smart Crosswalk

Daegu City conducted a pilot operation at six locations in Seo-gu with a project budget of 730 million KRW in 2023, and plans to expand the service area to 20 locations across Daegu with a budget of 900 million KRW in 2024. The official smart crosswalk service will begin on the 13th.

To prove the effectiveness of this device in preventing traffic accidents and secure momentum for additional projects, a satisfaction survey will be conducted both online and offline targeting 200 citizens after a certain period of operation. Based on this, improvements will be identified to enhance user satisfaction and traffic accident prevention effects.

Heo Jun-seok, Director of Daegu Transportation Bureau, said, “As AI technology is actively integrated into overall public administration, there are high expectations for the traffic accident prevention effects of the officially launched smart crosswalk service,” adding, “We will take utmost care in expanding the service area and developing additional content based on the satisfaction survey results.”