The challenges of providing real-time traffic information in an urban environment

Performance of the road network is directly affected by the journey decisions taken by road users. Access to relevant and timely information enables road users to avoid congestion by re-planning the time or route of their journey, re-routing once on the road or choosing an alternative mode of transport. 19.8 million journeys in London rely on the road every weekday. No further road capacity is available and demand for road space is rising. Therefore, traffic information can effectively contribute to improved journey time reliability for drivers in London. This paper offers an overview of recent customer research about the awareness, use and impact of traffic information and invites feedback on TfL´s activities from readers.