###### Abstract  
This study presents a systematic bibliometric review of wearable technologies aimed at vulnerable road user (VRU) safety, covering publications from 2000 to 2025. Guided by PRISMA procedures and a PICo-based search strategy, 58 records were extracted and analyzed in CiteSpace, yielding visualizations of collaboration networks, publication trajectories, and intellectual structures. The results indicate a clear evolution from single-purpose, stand-alone devices to integrated ecosystem solutions that address the needs of diverse VRU groups. Six dominant knowledge clusters emerged--street-crossing assistance, obstacle avoidance, human-computer interaction, cyclist safety, blind navigation, and smart glasses. Comparative analysis across pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, and persons with disabilities shows three parallel transitions: single- to multisensory interfaces, reactive to predictive systems, and isolated devices to V2X-enabled ecosystems. Contemporary research emphasizes context-adaptive interfaces, seamless V2X integration, and user-centered design, and future work should focus on lightweight communication protocols, adaptive sensory algorithms, and personalized safety profiles. The review provides a consolidated knowledge map to inform researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers striving for inclusive and proactive road safety solutions. wearable computing; vulnerable road users; traffic safety; multimodal interaction; bibliometric analysis; V2X communication; knowledge mapping +
Footnote †: journal: Applied sciences  
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a significant portion of global road traffic fatalities, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting over 1.19 million annual road traffic deaths worldwide [2], these vulnerable groups often lack adequate protection in increasingly complex traffic environments. Traditional safety approaches have primarily focused on vehicle-centric solutions [3] or static infrastructure improvements [4]. Although these methods are valuable, they do not fully address the dynamic mobility of VRUs. Moreover, they overlook the unique perceptual challenges VRUs face in complex traffic environments. Recent advances in wearable computing [5], sensing technologies [6], and artificial intelligence [7] have opened new possibilities for enhancing VRU safety. These technological innovations enable direct enhancement of users' perception of surrounding dangers through personalized, portable solutions. Wearable devices such as smart helmets, glasses, vests, and augmented reality displays can provide real-time environmental information and hazard warnings to vulnerable users navigating complex traffic scenarios, exemplified by computer vision-based smart glasses [7] and wearable alert systems integrating multiple sensors [8]. Compared to traditional passive protection measures, these technologies represent a paradigm shift in VRU safety, not only actively predicting potential hazards but also providing customized protection while maintaining users' mobility freedom. Despite significant research progress, there remains a lack of systematic understanding of the field's knowledge structure, evolutionary patterns, and future directions. Given this background, our study differs from previous reviews that focused solely on specific VRU groups' safety [9; 10] or particular applications of wearable technologies [11; 12] by employing a systematic bibliometric approach to construct a knowledge map of this interdisciplinary field and reveal its evolutionary patterns [13].