TravTek Evaluation Yoked Driver Study

Inman, V.; Sanchez, Rebecca; Bernstein, L.; Porter, C. L. · 1995 · ROSA P / United States. Joint Program Office for Intelligent Transportation Systems

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Summary

This report details the Yoked Driver Study, a component of the TravTek operational field test conducted in Orlando, Florida, from 1992 to 1993. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an Advanced Traveler Information and Traffic Management System (ATIS/ATMS) by addressing four primary questions: whether real-time traffic information and electronic navigation improve trip efficiency; whether they enhance overall driver performance; what drivers are willing to pay for these features; and whether the system interface is usable and useful. The research sought to validate the concept of in-vehicle navigation and determine if such systems could reduce congestion, save time, and maintain or improve safety. The experimental design employed a "yoked" methodology involving 222 volunteer drivers who traveled between selected origins and destinations during peak afternoon traffic. Drivers were assigned to one of three vehicle configurations: "Navigation Plus," which provided route planning and guidance using real-time traffic data; "Navigation," which provided route planning and guidance without real-time data; and "Control," where drivers navigated using paper maps or standard instructions. Vehicles in the Navigation Plus and Navigation groups departed at two-minute intervals to ensure exposure to identical traffic conditions. Data were collected through in-vehicle logs, observer ratings, and post-trip questionnaires. The TravTek system utilized a combination of dead-reckoning, map-matching, and GPS for positioning, with route guidance delivered via visual displays and synthesized voice. The results indicated that both Navigation Plus and Navigation configurations significantly reduced trip planning time and en route travel time compared to the Control condition. While Navigation Plus vehicles often traveled greater distances and utilized lower-class roadways to avoid congestion, their travel times were not significantly longer than those of Navigation vehicles. The system contributed to network efficiency by diverting traffic from congested interstates. Driver performance metrics, including near-accident rates and abrupt maneuvers, showed that drivers using the system performed at least as well as those in the Control group. Subjective reports indicated significantly reduced workload and improved safety perceptions. Participants rated route guidance as the most valuable feature, followed by navigation assistance and real-time traffic information. The study concluded that the TravTek system was easy to learn and use, with voice guidance identified as the favorite feature, though its sound quality required improvement. Participants expressed a willingness to pay approximately $1,000 for the system or an additional $28 per week for a rental car equipped with it. The findings validated the utility of in-vehicle navigation and real-time traffic information for improving individual trip efficiency and network traffic flow without compromising driving safety. These results supported the broader goals of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Program by demonstrating the potential benefits of advanced driver information systems.

Key finding

Drivers using electronic navigation assistance saved significant trip planning time and reported reduced workload compared to those using traditional navigation methods, while real-time traffic information allowed for route diversification without increasing individual travel times.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 222

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• nav systems
• in vehicle coaching
• exposure measurement
• feedback modes
• temporal
• traffic density

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data
• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics, tool software