Relationships Between Using Rate of Information Media on Diversion by Traffic Condition

Although many studies have been carried out on the pattern of behavior of drivers which result from the provision of traffic information, there have been few detailed studies on the composition of message, method for message expression, timing of provision, point of provision, media for provision, changes by traffic condition, etc. This study was intended to provide an insight into the changes in the characteristics related to the provision of information by analyzing how the patterns of information utilization change depending on the traffic condition and reclassifying such patterns according to the characteristics of media. Unlike the existing studies, this study adopted the traffic condition, using rate of information media, and the correlation coefficient label as the basis for information media classification, and categorized them into passive utilization media, active utilization media, and past experience in order to ensure the statistical reasonability. The categorized using rate of information media and traffic condition was found to have a positive(+) correlation with the travel speed in the case of passive utilization media during both consecutive holidays(Korea's traditional Thanksgiving day) and weekends, but had a negative(-) correlation with the positive utilization media and past experience. The rate of decision to take a detour based on the past experience was high at the condition of congestion or slow during both consecutive holidays and weekends, but the rate of decision to take a detour through passive utilization media was high in a smooth traffic. In other words, if the traffic condition worsens, using rate of passive utilization media would be low while the diversion rate would be high which uses the active utilization media and past experience. Therefore, it should be established to suit the traffic condition and media characteristics for strategies of traffic distribution through drivers' diversion behavior on weekends and consecutive holidays.