Study on drivers’ comprehension and response to traffic information on advanced graphical route information panels displaying graphic symbols

摘要

Graphical Route Information Panels (GRIPs) have been commonly used on expressways in Japan toprovide drivers with en-route traffic information. Although GRIPs have much advantage over VMS,too much information and too complex displays may prevent drivers from proper understanding of theprovided information. To enhance the LOS of expressways, it is important to upgrade GRIPs and tounderstand drivers’ response. This study therefore investigates the impact of displaying pictogramsand moving symbols on GRIPs on drivers’ comprehension and response to the information through anonline survey. As a result, these findings are obtained; (ⅰ) pictograms and moving symbols are helpfulfor most drivers to understand the events information on GRIPs correctly; (ⅱ) in terms of drivers’comprehensibility there is possibility to provide information of natural events (fog and tidal wave) bydisplaying pictograms or moving symbols on GRIPs; and (ⅲ) showing pictograms or moving symbolsand providing natural events information significantly influence drivers’ route choice behavior.