Navigationssysteme – ungenutzte Standardausstattung oder nützliche Wegweiser?

Abstract

Navigation systems are expected to considerably improve the overall performance within the traffic system – provided that these tools are frequently used and recognised as convenient routing guides instead of being disregarded parts of the standard equipment of vehicles. In order to explore to what extent and in which way navigation systems are used so far, in 2005 a nationwide online survey was carried out by the DLR – Institute of Transport Research. A matter of particular interest was the influence of navigation systems on individual transport behaviour. The sample consisted of 1315 individuals, all of them supposed to have access to a navigation system. The presentation gives a summary of the main findings, addressing the following issues:  How navigation systems are used?  In which situations navigation systems are used?  Do users act on recommendations made by the navigation system?  What are the underlying motives and attitudes towards the active use of navigation systems? According to the survey, most of the respondents could either use a fixed installed navigation system (67%). 29% are equipped with a personal digital assistant (PDA). As could have been expected, navigation systems are particularly used in unfamiliar areas; about 93% of the respondents stated, that they follow the routing instructions very often or even all the time. Surprisingly, almost 42% of the respondents also use their navigation system in familiar surroundings. 62 % follow the system's recommendations in this case. In the long run, frequently used navigation systems seem to become indispensable assistants for their owners. The empirical findings indicate a significant correlation between the length of system ownership and usage on the one hand and the stated individual need for such a system on the other hand.