CAR DRIVER ROUTE CHOICE: A PERCEPTION STUDY OF THE "RAT RUNNING" PHENOMENON AT ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE

This paper attempts to explore the "rat-running" phenomenon (taking short cuts) as exhibited by car drivers. Its occurrences (why, when and where) have been investigated and some of the theories for its occurrence have been tested by means of an extensive case study in the environs of a critical junction in St Albans, Herts, over a 3 year period. The reasons for the occurrence of rat-running are summarised as being a means of minimising the following: perceived journey time, journey length, delay stopped time, and perceived journey costs. Journey time and traffic flow data are presented for a number of rat run locations in St Albans. Details of how the survey data were obtained are given and a graph showing the percentage of drivers using rat runs versus travel time ratio is included. On the basis of the observations made during the survey a set of rat run criteria are described together with some possible restraint measures. Specific conclusions about the various rat runs investigated are given, but it is felt to be arguable whether rat-running is seen as a general nuisance to be eliminated or whether it is a problem of vehicle speeds or perhaps commercial vehicles only. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410683
• Corporate Authors:

  Printerhall Limited

  29 Newmart Street
  London W1P 3PE,   England 
• Authors:
  • DUFFELL, J R
  • Carden, P J
• Publication Date: 1983-11

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 520-527
• Serial:
  • Traffic Engineering & Control
  • Volume: 24
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0041-0683
  • Serial URL: http://www.tecmagazine.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Behavior; Case studies; Choice models; Drivers; Driving; Itinerary; Perception; Route choice; Traffic delays; Traffic surveys; Travel budgets; Travel costs; Travel time; Trip length
• Uncontrolled Terms: Traffic studies
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception
• ITRD Terms: 9001: Behaviour; 1243: Car; 9010: Delay; 1855: Driving (veh); 699: Itinerary; 697: Journey time; 2229: Perception; 9072: Selection; 676: Traffic survey; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00382736
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-036 519
• Files: HSL, ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM