MOTORISTS' PREFERENCES IN ROUTE DIVERSION SIGNING

A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Baltimore- Washington corridor to determine motorists' preferences in route diversion signing. The study site was located near the southern end of the corrdor at the interchange of I-95 and I-495. The objectives of the questionnaire study were to determine 3 types of information concerning the motorist and the diversion-signing system. In addition too determining the characteristics of drivers that use a major intercity corridor, the study sought to identify the type of real-time information desired by the road user and determine the format for conveying this information. Two different questionnaires were developed and tested, and over 6 thousand were distributed to motorists during 3 interview periods. On the basis of the motorists' responses, the study found 3 sign messages worthy of further consideration for real-time route diversion. These signs contained the following information: (a) length of congestion, (b) cause of congestion and exit instructions, and (c) alternate route information. The first type was preferred because of its conciseness. The other 2 were preferred because they conveyed a sense of authority and presented the motorist with an alternative to travel delay.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/531/531-004.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MOTORISTS%27+PREFERENCES+IN+ROUTE+DIVERSION+SIGNING&author=J.+Hall&author=L.+Dickinson&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309023785
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Motorist Information Systems. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Hall, J W
  • Dickinson Jr, L V
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 48-57
• Monograph Title: Traffic Control and Motorist Information
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 531
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Consumer behavior; Consumer preferences; Data collection; Drivers; Information management; Information, data, and knowledge; Interchanges; Questionnaires; Reaction time; Signs; Surveys; Traffic diversion
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00097209
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023785
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 18 1975 12:00AM