Route choice responses to variable road user charges and traffic information

This study investigates the drivers' route choice in response to variable road user charges and traffic information. Firstly, this study investigates the effects of
information concerning traffic conditions on drivers' route choice behaviour and the way in which drivers evaluate the value of information concerning delay time. Secondly, drivers' response to different types of variable road user charges and their sensitivity to these road user charges are explored. Thirdly, the way that the uncertain information influence drivers' behaviours are also analysed. Finally, this study investigates the extent to which socio-economic characteristics influence drivers' responses to road user charge and to the information concerning traffic conditions and charges.

The traffic information is provided via VMS and related to the expected delay time. Three types of the variable road user charges are applied: fixed charges; timebased
charges; and delay time-based charges. Three SP surveys are conducted to collect data. The main survey is conducted in Leeds and Seoul, and the additional survey is conducted in Leeds. Logit models are used for analysing the main SP
survey data. The repeated measurement problem in the main survey data is corrected using the jackknife method and Kocur's method. A regression method is used in the analysis of the additional survey data. Some results reveal that Utility Theory was not enough to explain the results. Therefore, Prospect Theory is applied to the results and is found to give a satisfactory explanation.

The results indicate that drivers are less likely to choose a route characterised by recurrent delays and as the length of delay reported on their usual route increases drivers value delay time information more highly than free travel time and become increasingly sensitive to delay time as it increases. The delay thresholds in this study are 10 minute for the normal delay time and 15 minutes for the extra delay
time on VMS.