Simulation experiments to investigate drivers adherence with traffic information

Providing qualitative and quantitative accurate real-time traffic information before the trip and while driving offer potential solutions to enhance the transportation system performance and improve the quality of travel in urban areas. This paper addresses two drivers´ route choice paradigms by modeling drivers´ compliance with a pre-trip advised route and drivers´ use of en-route short-term traffic information. A travel simulator with a realistic network and real historical congestion levels was used as a data collection tool. Two generalized estimating equations (GEEs) models were developed. The results showed that familiarity with the device that provides the information and severe weather conditions increase the likelihood of complying with the pre-trip advised route (first model) and following the en-route short-term (link) information (second model). Network familiarity and the number of traffic signals on the pre-trip advised route have a negative effect on drivers´ compliance. Providing qualitative information, in addition to quantitative, and proximity to the destination (number of links passed since the origin) increase the usage of en-route traffic information.