Effect of complex traffic situations on route choice behaviour and driver stress in residential areas

Abstract

If more reliable traffic information was available, in some situations it would be an option for drivers to go through residential areas to save travel time and avoid standing at traffic lights on main roads. However, on side roads drivers face complex traffic regulations like ‘right before left’ or limited speed zones with slow traffic participants such as bicyclists. Thus, the potential gain in travel time and driving freely is counter-balanced by more complex traffic situations and slower driving. This paper examines the trade-off between these different gains and losses in the context of route choice, while also assessing driver stress and satisfaction with the route. To this end, route choice scenarios were implemented in a driving simulator with a fixed main road and a side road with traffic situations of varying complexity. A total of 60 drivers (29 women) participated and passed 16 scenarios. Preferences for the side road were mainly influenced by the variation in travel time and less by the increasing complexity of the traffic situation. However, driver stress was higher when driving highly complex side roads. Behavioural explanations and transfer to real traffic are discussed as residential areas have special protection in traffic planning.