Incorporating an information acquisition process into a route choice modelwith multiple information sources

This study aims at analyzing drivers' behavior in acquiring and using traff ic information in an environment with multiple information sources. Accordi ngly, information acquisition and reference models are developed in an effo rt to show the empirical relationship between drivers' reaction to multiple information sources, causal factors latent psychological ones, traffic con ditions at the time of traveling and the accuracy of traffic information av ailable. A route choice model is proposed that takes into account the infor mation acquisition and reference process. Model validity is investigated us ing data collected on the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway, which has four dif ferent types of information sources. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.