The role of personality factors in repeated route choice behavior: behavioral economics perspective

Abstract

This paper is based on an in-laboratory experiment and aims to explore the impact of various personality factors on route-choice behavior in the presence of partial pre-trip travel time information. Specifically, these factors are geographic ability and sensation seeking characteristics. The results show that while the variables related to perceived and realized travel times are important, the personality factors are also significant. Drivers with lower geographic abilities tended to use the main route more often and to switch their routes less often, compared to those with higher capabilities. Drivers who scored higher on sensation seeking tended to switch their routes more frequently, compared to other drivers.