DELAY, TIME SAVED, AND TRAVEL TIME INFORMATION FOR FREEWAY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Five studies of freeway motorists' opinions were conducted to determine preferences and reported behavior with respect to hypothetical displayed messages about time delays. Major findings were that the average person stated that he or she would divert from a freeway if the duration displayed was 15-20 min and would divert to a bypass route if the time saved displayed was 5-10 min. Incident type, traffic conditions, and regional differences in the driver samples were not important factors. The message major accident implied at least a 22-min delay, and Minor Accident implied no more than a 12-min delay. The term delay was used in reference to unusual condtions at the time of day the message was displayed rather than time held up in traffic. Avoiding delay, saving time, and comparing travel time are all effective messages for describing advantages in taking a bypass route, but comparative travel time takes longer to read. /Author/