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Drivers’ response to variable message signs (VMS) in Kuwait

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Abstract

Variable message signs (VMS) installed in Kuwait at different roads’ locations to disseminate different types of information. This paper investigated the factors affecting drivers’ decision to switch the route under different VMS information. Data were collected using a stated preference survey. The survey included variables affecting drivers’ decisions, such as driver characteristics, drivers’ attitude, and perception towards current VMS information and traffic in general. Four types of information that a VMS could display were given. These included indicating congestion only, which is similar to the current VMS information in Kuwait; showing delay time only; indicating congestion with the delay time and suggesting the best alternate route; or showing delay time only while providing an alternate route. Independent variables with the given dependent variables were tested by applying a multinomial logit regression model to study the correlation among different variables. Results indicated that socio-economic characteristics did not have an impact on drivers’ decision to change the route if VMS indicated congestion only or delay time alone. By contrast, drivers’ gender and family size can affect drivers’ attitude to switch route when VMS displayed multiple types of information and suggested an alternate route simultaneously. Part of the drivers’ attitudes were found to be significant if VMS indicated congestion only, displayed delay time alone, or displayed delay time and suggested an alternate route. When VMS indicated all the types of information all at once, only drivers’ gender and family size were found to be significant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait

    Sharaf AlKheder, Fahad AlRukaibi & Ahmad Aiash

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  1. Sharaf AlKheder
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  2. Fahad AlRukaibi
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  3. Ahmad Aiash
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Correspondence to Sharaf AlKheder.

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AlKheder, S., AlRukaibi, F. & Aiash, A. Drivers’ response to variable message signs (VMS) in Kuwait. Cogn Tech Work 21, 457–471 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-019-00538-7

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