UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF REAL-TIME TRAVEL INFORMATION ON ROUTE CHOICE BEHAVIOR AND TRAVEL SATISFACTION

Traffic congestion is a major issue in urban transportation, influenced by drivers' route choices. Effective traffic management requires a deep understanding of drivers' decision-making, especially how real-time travel information impacts their choices and satisfaction. With technology advancements, diverse real-time travel information sources have become accessible, but existing studies have not fully explored the psychological factors affecting drivers' response to this information. This dissertation analyzes these cognitive and psychological factors using driving simulator experiments to examine how real-time information impacts route choices and travel satisfaction.

The study proposes models that address drivers' latent cognitive factors, such as cognitive burden and decisiveness, in response to en route real-time travel information. It examines drivers’ psychological effects associated with perceiving and processing of en route information on decision-making alongside conventional factors like driver attributes, route characteristics, and situational elements. The framework also explores how drivers' attitudes toward information influence its psychological effects and their intention to use it. In addition, real-time travel information improves drivers' satisfaction by enhancing their travel experience, reducing uncertainty, and offering time-saving benefits. This dissertation uses structural equation modeling to analyze how information characteristics contribute to long-term route choice behavior and better design of information dissemination strategies.

An interactive driving simulator-based experiment is proposed to create quasi-realistic driving environment, enabling the collection of realistic data on driving behavior and route choices while accounting for complex cognitive processes. The design addresses limitations of existing simulators by integrating dynamic traffic flows and using trip urgency as a proxy for trip purposes, as well as includes multiple information sources and varied content to simulate diverse contexts.

The findings of this dissertation can help transportation stakeholders, including traffic operators and planners, incorporate drivers' latent characteristics and travel information strategies, enabling drivers’ effective route choices and enhanced travel satisfaction. Policymakers can use these insights to support future investments in the system of real-time travel information. Additionally, information vendors and auto manufacturers can apply the results to design driver-friendly in-vehicle information solutions with a focus on human factors.