Telematics to the max : a new perspective on car capacity-sharing.

This paper considers ways of improving transport system capacity during the rush hour by using Telematics to exploit unused private car capacity. The relevant human behavioral factors are presented and used to review the present situation. The research then takes a look a recent initiatives: the main pitfall is that most of the current effort is directed at developing clever systems to match capacity supply and demand without addressing the question of how capacity supply is actually supposed to arise in the first place. The conclusion is therefore that Telematics must be used first as one of the instruments to persuade the solo motorist to share his vehicle with others. The findings suggest that a regional pilot should be started where the various instruments can be tested in a real situation.