Effects
To what extent do electronic information panels influence route choice?
Studies of the effects of DRIPs on the roads in the Rotterdam area show that the influence of dynamic route information is limited and that motorists do not readily change their route. Only 3-6% chooses an alternative route if the difference in tailback length is 1 kilometre more than the normal difference between route A and route B. Surveys among road users have shown similar results. At a 2 kilometre difference in tailback length only one sixth of motorists are prepared to choose another route; at 4 kilometres difference this is one third. This probably has to do with habit forming and with motorists' preference for familiar routes. Also the fact that journey time information is not always accurate can be of importance. Increasing reliability of journey information is expected to have an effect on route choice.
