Research on the Incentive Mechanism for Travelers Based on the Principal-agent Theory

The prominent contradictions in the operation of urban transportation systems are reflected in the uneven distribution of road network traffic flow and the insufficient real-time road condition information that travelers can grasp. Against this backdrop, effectively guiding vehicle diversion and improving travelers’ compliance with induced routes have become core challenges in the field of traffic management. Based on the principal-agent theory framework, this study treats the government as the principal and travelers as agents to investigate mechanisms for enhancing the acceptance rate of route guidance. A mathematical model is established to analyze the incentive effects of government policies on traveler behavior. and to explore effective approaches for improving route guidance acceptance. The results demonstrate that well-designed incentive mechanisms can significantly increase travelers’ acceptance of route guidance, providing both a theoretical foundation and practical insights for urban traffic management.