Can These Lights Make Crosswalks Safer for Pedestrians Distracted by Their Phones?

These days, pedestrians waiting to cross the street are apt to be looking down at their phones—checking email, responding to texts and scrolling through TikTok videos—rather than watching their surroundings. In a bid to keep distracted walkers safe at traffic signals, transportation officials in Hong Kong have installed downward-facing LED lights that cast a red glow on the sidewalk when it’s not safe to cross.