Journey decision making: the influence on drivers of dynamic information presented on variable message signs

Abstract

In many highways environments electronic media such as variable message signs are increasingly being used to provide drivers with up-to-date dynamic information in order to influence driving decision making during journeys. These decisions may be associated with strategic choices, such as route selection, or tactical decisions, such as driving at a certain speed, or altering driving style. This paper presents a study that used two methods-a scenario approach and a medium-fidelity driving simulator. Data from both methods are presented here and include decision making and driving performance data. These data provide an insight into the role of information and other contextual influences in decision making in the driving context specifically, but also has useful implications for the way in which information should be designed in other decision making contexts, such as travel using public transport, or supporting real-time complex control operations. The use of multiple data collection approaches also enabled data comparisons to be made, thus improving overall confidence in conclusions. The paper highlights the role of familiarity with information wording and context, level of detail, interpreted meaning, previous experience and contextual cues on trust in information and consequently behaviour in response to the information presented.

Developing a Graphical Route Information Panel (GRIP) for use on the UK motorway network. The first steps

“…Results from previous studies on conventional VMS (Sharples, Shalloe, Burnett, & Crundall, 2013) have demonstrated consistency between predicted behaviour in scenario studies and measured behaviour in simulator studies.…”

The activation of eco-driving mental models: Can text messages prime drivers to use their existing knowledge and skills?

“…However, in the case of participants reacting to obvious primes, one would also expect some participants to purposefully please the experimenter (Fiske and Taylor 1984), which was not the case. The variety of the text messages, with different levels of information, cause-andeffect scenario and emotive words could have confounded their perception, depending on personal factors of the driver (Sharples et al 2015).…”

Editorial for special issue on cognitive ergonomics for work, education and everyday life

“…Investigating users' experiences via the critical incident technique allow them to explore contextual as well as internal factors which lead to decision making in mobility. Sharples et al (2016) combine two methods (scenario and simulation) to understand the role of information as well as contextual influences to decision making in the driving context.…”

“…In the mobility domain, new tools and services are designed to support journey decision making. Two papers are related to this issue either for public transportation (Grison et al 2016) or driving (Sharples et al 2016). …”