Empirical evaluation of drivers' route choice behavioral responses to social navigation

Even though route choice behavior and drivers' acceptance of advanced traveler information systems have been studied in the past, little or no attention has been given to the route choice behavior and acceptance response to social navigation systems. What separates social navigation systems from traditional traffic navigation is that the route advice aims to minimize the individual travel time and the marginal total travel time in the network. In this study, drivers' behavioral responses to social navigation route guidance were empirically evaluated under different information and incentive strategies. A traffic navigation application based on social navigation was developed and used in a pilot multiuser laboratory experiment. Participants were asked to make route choices in a virtual travel environment under various information and incentive strategies. Drivers were more willing to comply with the social advice when they were well informed and well rewarded. The results also show that female and novice drivers are more willing to comply with the social advice than are male drivers and experienced drivers. Aside from the level of altruism, a driver's indifference to switching routes also affects a driver's compliance with social advice.