ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC INFORMATION ON DRIVER'S BEHAVIOR

When traffic information is provided through traffic information boards or roadside radio, drivers' interpretation of the information differs according to the contents of the information and how it is expressed. As a result, the guidance effect, which is one of the main objectives of traffic information services, is not always uniform. Two studies--Research and Development of Route Guidance Technology and Surveys and Studies of Information Service Methods in Tokyo--were conducted from 1991 to 1993 and reveal how drivers react to the contents and explanation of traffic information, how they perceive the traffic information, and how this information is reflected in their driving. Questionnaires and other surveys on driver awareness of traffic information while driving have made clear what kind of information drivers need in certain situations and locations. Also being studied are the kinds of traffic descriptions on information boards and roadside radio that are most effective for drivers. In this study, using these survey and research results, an attempt is made to summarize the information services and driver awareness, and to clarify the present situation as well as to provide a means to offer information services in the future.