Questionnaire Survey of Users of the Dynamic LISB System

Abstract

This paper describes the design of the third in a series of questionnaires conducted by ITS among users of the LISB route guidance system and then proceeds to give the aggregate results from that questionnaire. Attention is focussed on respondents' use of, and attitudes towards, the LISB system after it had been providing dynamic advice for about six months. The questionnaire shows a slight decline in the use of the LISB route guidance system since it has become dynamic. However, the majority of the respondents appreciated that LISB advice now varied by time of day and traffic conditions with 2/3 of respondents stating that guidance had improved. LISB users are more likely to request and to follow advice when making journeys in unfamiliar areas than they are when making journeys in familiar areas. Failure to request advice was most frequently due to the respondents' trip being too short or because the trip involved several stops. The most commonly stated circumstances in which guidance was ignored was when it appeared to be sending the driver in the wrong (compass) direction, when it was provided too late, when it seemed to ignore a short cut or when it seemed to be advising the user to turn off what appeared to be a perfectly acceptable route. In general, it was found that users are more likely to reject LISB guidance if not backed up by the users' direct observations or past experience. Expectations of time savings through using LISB were highest for journeys in unfamiliar areas or in congested conditions. The majority of respondents rated LISB as good for ease of driving, time and distance saving, destination finding and tdllc safety for journeys in unfamiliar areas, but rated LISB as poor, in terms of those measures, for journeys in familiar areas. The most valued of potential enhancements to the existing LISB system were that the guidance should be available for journeys in other cities and that guidance should be provided right to the destination