COMMUTERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD TRAFFIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND ROUTE DIVERSION

This report describes the findings of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC) commuter information survey conducted by Commuter Transportation Services, Inc., in February 1987. Commuters in the Los Angeles area were surveyed by telephone to identify how various forms of traffic information are currently used and to assess their attitudes toward diverting from the freeway with improved traffic reporting. The survey collected information on commute characteristics, factors affecting route change, and commuters' attitudes toward improved traffic information. The survey evaluated three types of traffic information. These included continuous radio reporting, electronic freeway message signing, and a traffic information telephone number. The results of this study will assist LACTC before testing the "smart street network" concept along the Santa Monica freeway. Under this demonstration project, commuters will have access to direct real-time traffic information. The results of this study show that commuters in Los Angeles County want improved traffic information. Nearly four-fifths of the commuters surveyed throughout the county said that the current information was inadequate. Nearly 70 percent said that they would alter their commute if accurate traffic information were available. The survey also indicates that improved traffic information alternatives such as continuous radio traffic reporting and a traffic information telephone number could assist commuters in both route selection and route diversion.