Citation

Kajiya Y, Suzuki T, Matsuzawa M, Uemura T. Transp. Res. Circular 2004; (E-C063): 248-263.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, U.S. National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In Hokkaido, Japan, there are many conditions that affect winter road traffic. These include slipperiness from snowy or icy road surfaces and poor visibility induced by snowstorms. Proper provision of information is essential. The effects of winter road information provision on users, and their evaluation of that information, were analyzed. The analysis and discussion were based on the results of two questionnaire surveys, one regarding the Northern Road Navi website conducted via that website and the other regarding the provision of regionwide snowstorm information conducted via face-to-face group interview. When asked whether the information posed on the Northern Road Navi website was useful in enhancing safety and a sense of security, 90% of respondents answered affirmatively. The items of road information and mountain pass information were given positive evaluations. All the respondents said that they would continue to use these two types of information. Of the items of mountain pass information, many respondents answered that real-time information, such as mountain pass road images, weather forecasts, and snow and frost duration, is useful in enhancing safety and a sense of security. The authors conducted a customer satisfaction analysis to find out how the mountain pass information contributed to enhanced winter driving safety and a sense of security. The analysis results found that "topographical information on mountain passes (elevation, gradient, and so on)" was the mountain pass item that ranked highest in priority of requests for improvement. "Road image" ranked highest in customer satisfaction. The authors asked the respondents whether they would use a regionwide snowstorm information service that allowed unlimited access via personal computer and mobile phone to weather and road information on roads they selected. The contingent valuation method was employed in the questionnaire survey to estimate how much one household would be willing to pay for such a service per winter. This question was asked in a face-to-face group interview. The willingness to pay for such an information service was found to be 581 yen per household per winter. The survey results quantitatively verified that provision of winter road information prompted proper route selection and departure time adjustment, and thereby contributed greatly to enhanced safety and sense of security.