ANALYSIS OF DRIVER RESPONSES TO POINT DIVERSION FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

Abstract

In 1976, the Texas Transportation Institute conducted a series of field studies of point diversion of freeway traffic going to special events at the Fair Park complex in Dallas. These studies were specifically designed to evaluate primary candidate messages and displays that had been developed in the laboratory. In each of the studies, comprehensive origin-destination data were collected and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the diversionary signing techniques being considered. In addition, questionnaires were mailed to both drivers who had diverted and those who had not to (a) obtain driver attitudes and reactions to the point-diversion signing systems, (b) explore trends in driver behavior related to the diversion decision, and (c) identify factors that influence a driver's decision to divert. This paper reports and assesses the significant findings of these questionnaires. The data obtained indicate that, although numerous factors appear to have some effect on diversion for special events, driver anticipation of conditions on the alternative route, driver familiarity with the routes, and the type of special event (fixed starting time versus variable starting time) have the most pronounced influence. /Authors/