In this project a number of parties are cooperating in order to research the possibilities that exist for influencing motorists to avoid the peak hour. The experiment will be conducted with the cooperation of 500 volunteers that travel regularly during the peak hour from Zoetermeer to The Hague. These volunteers will receive a reward for each day that they do not travel by car during the morning peak hour. This experiment will take place during 50 working days in the period September 2006 – December 2006.

The experiment is carried out to research the effect of positive stimulation on the behaviour of motorists. In this case the effect is measured on the car usage during the peak hour (6.30-9.30) in the case that a reward is given for the avoidance of car usage during these hours.

There will be two categories of rewards during this test. 50% of the participants will receive money. The other group will be given the use of a smart phone for the duration of the experiment. On this smart phone the volunteer will receive up-to-the-minute traffic information. This information can be used by the participant in order to make a well-founded decision on whether he/she wants to travel by car or use an alternative means of transport. For each time that the participant avoids travelling by car during the peak hour a reward (points) will be given. If enough points have been accumulated by the end of the experiment the volunteer can keep the smart phone. Innovative in this project is the fact that the effect of positive stimulation in order to bring about a change in trafficbehaviour has never before been researched in practice.

The scientific significance of the experiment exists in the fact that predictions about the effects of stimuli on traffic behaviour have until now been based on questionnaires (stated preference) and modelling. With this experiment, scientists get the first opportunity ever to research the effects of stimuli in practice.

With the results of this experiment it might be possible to use a positive stimulus (rewards) along with a negative stimulus (pricing) in order to maximize the influence on the motorists behaviour. Anyhow, this experiment will contribute to the knowledge that is needed in order to use alternative measurements in order to manage the growing mobility. It will also contribute to the development of new models, based on actual behaviour. Those models can predict the effects of future measurements.

In April the recruitment of the volunteers started and in July it will be checked whether the necessary 500 volunteerd have indeed been recruited.

Participants
Free University, Technical University Delft, University of Utrecht, Goudappel Coffeng, ARS T&TT, Organizational Coaching, P2 Managers, Rabobank, RDW, Rijkswaterstaat

Projectmanagers
Frans Glazener (Rabobank) & Paul Manders (P2 Managers)

For more information, please contact Transumo at info@transumo.nl, +31 79 3470950