Citation

Dudek CL. Transp. Res. Rec. 1979; 737: 104-107.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper considers the development and maintenance of credibility in the design, implementation, and operation of a route guidance system. Because drivers will have positive attitudes about a system that provides them with relevant, reliable, and accurate information, all precautions must be taken to ensure that these driver expectations are met. Messages must be presented clearly and must allow ample time for the driver to respond to a given situation. Factors that affect reading time of displays include driver work load, message load, message length, message familiarity, and display format. In order to maintain driver credibility, surveillance must be an integral part of a route guidance system. Such surveillance must be able to detect adverse conditions, validate the adverse conditions, and determine the nature and scope of the problem. Electronic sensor surveillance, however, has some limitations. Because it is a blind system, (a) some form of visual validation and assessment of incidents to ensure the accuracy of displayed messages and (b) some guarantee of adequate system maintenance are necessary. A "forgiving" system--one that alerts the driver and provides instructions about how to return to a scheduled route after a diversion--must also be considered.