The Combined Effect of Information and Experience on Drivers’ Route-Choice Behavior

Psychological research suggests that route-choice models for advanced travel information systems (ATIS) can be improved by adding realistic behavioral assumptions. However, different choices arise when decisions are taken on the basis of information compared to those taken on the basis of personal experience. This paper describes an experimental study of route choices that investigated the combined effects of information and experience on route choice decisions in a simulated environment. In this environment, participants can rely on a description of travel time variability and at the same time can rely also on personal experience through feedback. The experiment consisted of a simple two-route network, one route on average faster than the other with three traffic scenarios representing different travel time ranges. Respondents were divided into two groups: one with real-time information and one without. Both groups received feedback information of their actual travel time. During the experiment, participants chose repeatedly between the routes and across scenarios. The results show that the effect of information is positive and more evident when participants lack long-term experience on the distributions of travel times. Furthermore, information seems to increase initial risk seeking behavior, reduce initial exploration and contribute to between subject differences. Implications of these findings for ATIS design, especially for nonrecurring congestion, are discussed.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-007-9143-7
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00494488
• Authors:
  • Ben-Elia, Eran
  • Erev, Ido
  • Shiftan, Yoram
• Publication Date: 2008-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 165-177
• Serial:
  • Transportation
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Springer
  • ISSN: 0049-4488
  • EISSN: 1572-9435
  • Serial URL: http://link.springer.com/journal/11116

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traveler information systems; Decision making; Driver experience; Real time information; Route choice; Traffic simulation; Travel behavior; Travel time
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01091333
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 23 2008 9:21AM