Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

The combined effect of information and experience on drivers' route-choice behavior

Ben-Elia, Eran; Erev, Ido; Shiftan, Yoram

The combined effect of information and experience on drivers' route-choice behavior Thumbnail


Authors

Eran Ben-Elia

Ido Erev

Yoram Shiftan



Abstract

Advanced travel information systems (ATIS) are designed to provide real time information enabling drivers to choose efficiently among routes and save travel time. Psychological research suggests that route-choice models can be improved by adding realistic behavioral assumptions. However, different generalizations imply deviations in different directions. Specifically, different choices arise when decisions are taken on the basis of information compared to those taken on the basis of personal experience. An experimental study of route choices investigates the combined effects of information and experience on route choice decisions in a simulated environment whereby the 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 to two groups: with real-time information and 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 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. These findings have implications for cost-effective ATIS design especially in the conditions characterized by non-recurrent congestion. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2007.

Citation

Ben-Elia, E., Erev, I., & Shiftan, Y. (2008). The combined effect of information and experience on drivers' route-choice behavior. Transportation, 35(2), 165-177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-007-9143-7

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Mar 1, 2008
Deposit Date Aug 27, 2010
Publicly Available Date Dec 2, 2016
Journal Transportation
Print ISSN 0049-4488
Electronic ISSN 1572-9435
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 35
Issue 2
Pages 165-177
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-007-9143-7
Keywords experience, ATIS, risk response, route-choice, travel time variability, utility maximization
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1016946
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11116-007-9143-7

Files

Transportation_EranBenElia-revised2.doc (128 Kb)
Document






Downloadable Citations