Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0
Title:
Study on Effects and Evaluation of Winter Road Information
Abstract:
In Hokkaido, Japan, there are many conditions that affect winter road traffic. These include slipperiness from snowy or icy road surfaces and poor visibility induced by snowstorms. Proper provision of information is essential. The effects of winter road information provision on users, and their evaluation of that information, were analyzed. The analysis and discussion were based on the results of two questionnaire surveys, one regarding the Northern Road Navi website conducted via that website and the other regarding the provision of regionwide snowstorm information conducted via face-to-face group interview. When asked whether the information posed on the Northern Road Navi website was useful in enhancing safety and a sense of security, 90% of respondents answered affirmatively. The items of road information and mountain pass information were given positive evaluations. All the respondents said that they would continue to use these two types of information. Of the items of mountain pass information, many respondents answered that real-time information, such as mountain pass road images, weather forecasts, and snow and frost duration, is useful in enhancing safety and a sense of security. Our survey results quantitatively verified that provision of winter road information prompted proper route selection and departure time adjustment, and thereby contributed greatly to enhanced safety and sense of security.
Source(s):
6th International Symposium on Snow Removal and Ice Control Technology, Transportation Research Circular, No. E-C063
http://trb.org/publications/circulars/ec063.pdf
Date: 2004
Author:
Kajiya, Suzuki, Matsuzawa, Uemura
Keywords:
Weather information
Winter storm
Safety
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