En Route Real-Time Travel Time Information: Experimental Evaluation of Display Characteristics

Commuters along a freeway corridor were recruited to participate in a laboratory experiment that used static displays to compare alternatives in terms of how well the viewer is able to comprehend the message and use the information to reach a decision about route choice. Signs included a range of formatting and content alternatives, including signs with diagrammatic elements. Among the key findings are that an effective layout is to left justify the destination and right justify the travel time. Simple diagrammatic signs, with linear depiction of the roadway and travel times to two or three destinations, appear acceptable. More complex diagrammatic signs appear difficult to readily interpret. The study also found that the time required to process sign information was positively related to both amount of sign information and self-reported ease of processing. Travel time displays may place undesirable demands on drivers if they exceed three lines of text or six information units. Recommendations based on these findings are provided.

• Order URL:
  http://itswc.confex.com/itswc/WC2011/webprogram/Paper3037.html
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://itswc.confex.com/itswc/WC2011/webprogram/start.html
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Intelligent Transportation Society of America.
• Corporate Authors:

  ITS America

  1100 17th Street, NW, 12th Floor
  Washington, DC  United States  20036
• Authors:
  • Robinson, Emanuel
  • Singer, Jeremiah
  • Lerner, Neil
  • Jenness, James
  • Huey, Richard
• Conference:
  • 18th ITS World Congress
  • Location: Orlando Florida, United States
  • Date: 2011-10-16 to 2011-10-20
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p
• Monograph Title: 18th ITS World Congress, Orlando, 2011. Proceedings

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highways; Human factors; Information display systems; Real time information; Traffic signs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Display format
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01449609
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 19 2012 3:53PM