Individual driver route guidance systems and their implications for traffic control

Abstract

While the basic concept of guiding individual drivers en route to their destination using on-board computers was introduced more than two decades ago, a practical implementation of this concept has only become possible as part of the current microcomputer–communications revolution. This paper assesses the potential role of these on-board route guidance systems as a means of better assisting drivers to make routing decisions and to improve the quality of the data available to the central traffic control system. The assessment indicates that the potential capabilities of these systems are controlled by the type of communications between the on-board units and the central control system, the level of on-board intelligence that is provided, and the integration of these activities within the traffic control model. Key words: traffic control, individual route guidance, driver information systems.