Evaluating subjective beliefs of travel time of taxi drivers

Uncertainty in traffic network is very common, and drivers are faced with these in their daily choices with respect to routes and departure times. Transportation engineers have identified that the risk attitudes and perceptions of risk are important components of risks in transportation system and affect drivers’ decisions. This risk perception (travel time distributions) can be significantly different from the actual distributions. This research aims to study individual’s belief regarding travel time, and what does stated ranges mean with regards to perception of uncertainty in travel time. A controlled field experiment was conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh, using a representative sample of 101 taxi drivers between 19 and 55 years of age. The experiment was conducted over a road network with choice of two possible routes. This study uses methods from experimental economics to elicit subjective beliefs about travel time, with real monetary rewards. These monetary consequences are dependent based on actual travel times. We find distinct differences in the perceived beliefs of travel time and those actually observed. This finding is significant for transport planners conducting cost benefit analysis to determine transportation demand management strategies. Neglect in incorporating perception into travel behaviour models could bias results. In addition, strategies such as information provision need to be explored to reduce these perception biases.

• Authors:
  • Hassan, A
  • Dixit, V V
• Conference:
  • Conference of Australian Institutes of Transport Research (CAITR), 33rd, 2015, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Publication Date: 2015-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 11p
• Monograph Title: Conference of Australian Institutes of Transport Research: CAITR 2015: 12-13 February 2015, The University of Melbourne

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Benefit cost analysis; Drivers; Risk; Risk management; Route choice; Taxi services; Time; Travel; Travel behavior; Travel time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Selection
• Geographic Terms: Bangladesh; Dhaka (Bangladesh)
• ATRI Terms: Attitude; Cost benefit analysis; Driver; Risk; Route choice; Taxi; Travel behaviour; Travel time
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 1148: Taxi
• Subject Areas: Finance; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01556909
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 13 2015 9:55AM