Behavioral Insights in Route Choice Models wth Real-Time Information

This paper deals with the behavioral aspects of drivers’ decision making processes when faced with Advanced Travel Information Systems (ATIS). Route-choice models can be improved with realistic behavioral assumptions. However, different choices arise when decisions are taken on the basis of information compared to those taken on the basis of experience. An experiment was designed to investigate route choices relying on a description of travel time variability and also on personal experience through feedback. The results show information has a positive effect and is more evident when participants lack experience on the distributions of travel times. Information seems to increase initial risk seeking behavior, reduce initial exploration and contribute to larger between subject risk-attitudes differences. These findings have important implications for ATIS design especially in the conditions characterized by non recurring congestion.