Delivering Road Weather Information to the Traveling Public

Data obtained from road weather information system (RWIS) technology have been successfully applied to road maintenance and to a lesser extent traveler information. Before the information is disseminated publicly, several questions must be asked. For instance, what RWIS information does the public want and how do they want to receive it? Insight into the answers to such questions was provided by a study that involved a series of questionnaires provided to four potential user groups of RWIS information: commuters, recreational travelers, long-distance travelers, and truckers (including dispatchers). The results show that variable message signs, commercial radio, and highway advisory radio are the most popular forms of delivery methods. No strong preference was identified for telephone services, paging services, or in-car navigation systems. Road condition information is preferred by all groups over information on alternate routes, travel times, or travel speeds. The surveys indicate that road conditions that inhibit vehicle performance, such as accumulating snow, fog, ice, wind, and road closures, are most important to users. Information about rain, nonsticking snow, thunderstorms, and snow flurries is less important to users. Users prefer delivery time from 1 h before departure and while en route.