Use of Advanced Traveler Information Systems for Route Choice: Interpretation Based on a Bayesian Model

Advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) offer travelers a number of benefits, such as reduced travel time and uncertainty and improved traffic safety. The reliability of travel time provided by ATIS has an effect on the travelers choice of routes. However, the market for ATIS devices is a niche market, and its users may or may not follow the information and instructions provided by the system. Hence there is some information heterogeneity among travelers, which arises from the imperfect information with regard to other travelers preferences and types. This study applies the concept of a Bayesian game to the route choice problem when travelers are maximizing their degree of satisfaction by choosing routes. A Bayesian model is used in this work to analyze the impact of this heterogeneity on travelers route choices. We find that the use of ATIS exposes certain heterogeneities in traveler types and beliefs.