Human Factors Studies to Investigate Driver Behavior under In-Vehicle Information Systems: An Interactive Microcomputer Simulation Approach

In-vehicle traveler information systems are being designed to provide drivers with real-time route guidance and/or traffic advisory information. It is expected that these Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) technologies will have a major impact on travel efficiency by assisting drivers to make better real-time route choices in response to changing network conditions. There is not yet full knowledge as to the impacts that route guidance and traffic advisory systems will have on driver behavior. This paper presents preliminary results from a human factors experiment to investigate the effects of traffic advisory and route guidance information on enroute behavior and travel performance. An interactive microcomputer simulation was used for data collection. The study suggests that both drivers' route choice efficiency and understanding of network conditions can be improved with access to real-time traffic advisory and route guidance information.