TRAVEL-GUIDE - TRAVELler and traffic information systems: GUIDElines for the enhancement of integrated information provision services
Overview
Background & policy context:
Traffic information systems, in conjunction with traffic management systems, can assist in reducing several negative aspects of road transport such as accidents, congestion and pollution by providing information and guidance for safer, more efficient and more environmental friendly use of the road transport infrastructure. In general, such applications permit a higher level of traffic intensity and decrease average travel times. Environmental impacts, in the form of emissions and fuel consumption are subsequently reduced by avoiding unnecessary driving. Moreover, the provision of accurate and timely information can significantly improve traffic safety, preventing drivers to be involved in hazardous situations.
An increasing number of information and communication technologies have provided the means for numerous applications of pre-trip and on-trip traveller and driver information, allowing a growing flow of information addressed at the driver and the traveller. However, the driver's exposition to increasing amounts of traffic information can often result in an information overload and, since not all information is necessarily useful, may distract the driver’s attention and can even become a safety hazard. In addition, since most traffic information systems are planned taking into account almost exclusively local user requirements, the needs of other travellers, and especially foreigners, are not dealt with sufficiently (e.g. messages in local language).
It is apparent that the design and implementation of traffic information systems should follow a more uniform process at a European level, especially in the context of the Trans-European Networks. Thus there is a need for an assessment of user needs at this level, aiming at the formulation of guidelines that will facilitate the development of efficient systems that will meet the needs of a wider range of users, including foreign, elderly & disabled and professional drivers. Such guidelines can only be developed at a European level, in order for European standards to be created and relevant EU policies in the context of the Common Transport Policy
Objectives:
The main objectives of TRAVEL-GUIDE were, to:
- Develop guidelines for traffic related information provision by in car and infrastructure based systems.
- Assess the information needs of the end-users with respect to:
o Content and presentation
o Availability and reliability
o Timing and priority - Test new information provision methods.
Main innovative aspects of the project are the following:
- Assessment of the information needs of drivers, taking into account particular driver groups (especially travellers that are not familiar with the environment such as foreigners).
- Development of guidelines concerning the content, presentation, timing and priority of traffic information.
- Development and testing of new information provision methods that will attribute different interaction elements to different types of information to the driver, taking into account the overall processing capacities of the driver at any given time.
- Development of guidelines for road operators, authorities, information providers and system manufacturers on information provision to the driver for a wide range of driver aids.
- Improvement of the validity and reliability of traffic information and development of methods for the drivers/ users to provide feedback to the information provider.
- Investigation of measures of encouragement for the development of relevant market applications through the co-operation of road operators & authorities, information providers and system manufacturers.
Methodology:
Initially a review of existing and prospective: traffic information systems and services, traffic management systems, schemes of co-operation between the previous two families of systems and human – machine interfaces concerning the provision of information, has been performed. Issues such as, foreign drivers and inter-border travel, the reliability of TI systems the integration of data exchange among traffic centres, safety related services, the financing problem of the investments have been also examined.
Next an identification of gaps and priorities for future research and development was made for the above issues. An evaluation methodology tailored to the TRAVEL-GUIDE pilots and not as a description of an evaluation framework applicable to the evaluation of TIS in general, has been produced, although some aspects can certainly be considered universal.
The evaluation criteria outlined are useful for evaluation methodologies of other projects as long as the same impact area, is of interest. Concerning the development of new methods for integrated driver information provision, as the number of gaps and inefficiencies identified is rather large, priorities for further research have been selected, and investigated in next steps of the project.
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