Why don't more people use advanced traveler information? Evidence from Seattle, Washington

While it is generally agreed that traveler information can be valuable in saving time and frustration, a review of personal diaries from the Seattle area (USA) finds that only 10 per cent of trips involved information use, and only 1 per cent were modified in response to information. These findings are studied through an analysis of six factors: regional context, awareness, trip characteristics, information quality, presence of delays, and availability of alternatives. The paper finds that all of these factors contribute to a high degree of selectivity in travelers' information acquisition efforts, and that insufficient data quality in particular limits their ability to adjust their travel plans in response to information.