The Battelle Route Guidance Simulator: a low-cost tool for studying driver response to advanced navigation systems

An important goal of in-vehicle advanced traveller information systems (ATIS) is to allow travellers to drive safely and efficiently by supplying real-time route guidance and traffic advisory information. Since the impact of in-vehicle ATIS on driver behavior is not yet fully understood, human factors research is required to fill this gap. While on-the-road field studies are important, simulators can also be used quite effectively to investigate the complex set of parameters that modulate driver choice and behavior. The Battelle Route Guidance Simulator is a low-cost tool that has been used successfully to study driver response to advanced vehicle navigation systems.