Road user satisfaction survey: Finns are increasingly satisfied with traffic information
Finns are increasingly satisfied with traffic information. This is evident in the findings of the recently completed road user satisfaction survey, according to which satisfaction with information provided on road and traffic conditions on main roads has increased by 15 percentage points among private car users and by an impressive 21 points among professional drivers.
The findings of the annual road user survey have been completed. The road user satisfaction survey was conducted by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency between 25 January and 7 March 2021, with more than 8,300 private individuals and 1,300 professional drivers responding.
The purpose of the survey is to poll private car users and heavy transport operators for their experiences and opinions on roads on an annual basis. The survey also gauged how well Fintraffic, the service partner of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, had succeeded in providing traffic information and in operating the Road User Line phone service. The survey further polled road user satisfaction with the display of variable speed limit signs, which are controlled at the Fintraffic Road Traffic Centre.
“In road traffic management, we ensure safe and smooth traffic flow on the roads. Our operations rely on us having an uninterrupted, real-time situational picture of traffic at our disposal. For this, we have 20,000 traffic control devices, road condition sensors and weather sensors along main roads and at tunnels. Our work to promote safe and smooth traffic encompasses everything from technical system design to continuous traffic monitoring and the provision of road weather data for the entire chain. We have been pleased to note that our efforts are viewed so positively by road users, who see the concrete results of our work in the form of smoothly flowing and safe traffic,” says Riku Suursalmi, Chief Operating Officer at Fintraffic Road.
The road user satisfaction survey conducted by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency requested responses on a scale of 1 to 5, the scale being: 5 ‘Extremely satisfied’; 4 ‘Satisfied’; 3 ‘Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied’; 2 ‘Dissatisfied’; 1 ‘Extremely dissatisfied’.
Increased satisfaction with Fintraffic traffic information
Private car users and professional drivers are, on the whole, satisfied with the traffic information provided by Fintraffic.
Each year, the Fintraffic Road Traffic Centre sends out 10,000 traffic bulletins via various channels – to the media and in social media. The traffic bulletins are also shared in the Traffic Situation service and, via an open interface in Digitraffic, with application developers in various other services. Data produced by Fintraffic can also be found in automotive navigation systems and in international map services.
An impressive 64% of private car users were satisfied or extremely satisfied with information provided on road conditions and traffic on main roads this year (2020: 49%), while 70% of them were satisfied with information on traffic disruptions. By comparison, only 7% were dissatisfied with information provided on road conditions and traffic on main roads (2020: 15%), and 6% with information on traffic disruptions (including accidents).
The figures among professional drivers showed that 64% were satisfied or extremely satisfied with information provided on road conditions and traffic on main roads this year (2020: 43%), while 51% of them were satisfied with information on traffic disruptions. Only 7% were dissatisfied with information provided on road conditions and traffic on main roads (2020: 20%), and 13% with information on traffic disruptions (including accidents).
The average point scores given for information on road conditions and traffic on main roads were 3.64 for private car users (2020: 3.35) and 3.62 for professional drivers (2020: 3.20). The question on information provided on traffic disruptions (including accidents) was included in the survey for the first time; the average point scores given were 3.75 for private car users and 3.40 for professional drivers.
Variable speed limit signs – most respondents considered the winter speed limits appropriate
The question on satisfaction with the speed limits displayed by Fintraffic variable speed limit signs was included in the survey for the first time this year.
Variable speed limit signs are controlled at the Fintraffic Road Traffic Centre according to traffic and weather conditions.
A large majority of the respondents considered the winter speed limits appropriate: 78% of private car users and 64% of professional drivers were satisfied with the speed limits displayed in relation to the then current driving conditions.
The average point scores were a remarkably high 3.88 for private car users and 3.59 for heavy transport operators.
Three out of five private car drivers are satisfied with the Road User Line service provided by Fintraffic
The road user satisfaction survey also gauged how pleased road users were with the Road User Line phone service.
The Road User Line is a 24/7 helpline where road users can phone in to report any acute circumstances endangering road users. The Fintraffic Road Traffic Centre receives nearly 73,000 calls every year, and the road user reports are relayed to the local maintenance contractor so that they can take appropriate action.
Road user satisfaction with the Road User Line was polled with the question: “How satisfied have you been with the service you have received on the Road User Line (response time, expertise, etc.)?” Three out of five private car users responding (58%) said that they were satisfied with the Road User Line; 21% were dissatisfied. The figures for heavy transport operators were 47% and 27%, respectively.
The average point scores were 3.44 for private car users and 3.17 for heavy transport operators. Out of the survey respondents, over 500 private car users (5% of respondents) and 360 heavy transport operators (28% of respondents) had phoned the Road User Line.
The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency is the client for the road traffic management services provided by Fintraffic. Read the full report on the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency website: Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's Road User Satisfaction Survey National Report – Winter 2021.
