Understanding Drivers’ Behavioral attitudes and Intentions to Use Guidance Systems in Urban Complex Parking Lots Based on the C-TAM-TPB Framework

Multi-function services characteristic of complexes, complicated spatial structure, and inaccurate parking guidance in complex parking lots create many issues for drivers, including orientation problems, excessive parking time, and difficultly finding a parking space close to the desired destination. Complex parking lot guidance systems (CPLGSs), if accurately designed, can potentially make a substantial contribution to alleviate these problems and reduce drivers’ travel time while improving the parking experience. However, the extent of this contribution depends on drivers’ acceptance of this technology. This paper reports on the intention of complex visitors to use CPLGSs. Specifically, an integrated model combining the technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behavior was developed and tested to analyze the factors that can affect drivers’ behavioral attitudes and intentions for CPLGSs. Perceived risk is included as an antecedent on behavioral attitude. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, and 810 valid questionnaires were obtained. Results from a structural equation model show that perceived usefulness, subjective norm, behavioral attitude, and perceived behavioral control are positively connected with behavioral intention, while perceived risk is negatively related to behavioral attitude. Findings on mediators are also discussed. In addition, multi-group differences are analyzed, revealing that the use intention of the age ≤ 40 group is more positively influenced by subjective norms compared with the age > 40 group. Moreover, perceived ease of use has a strong influence on behavioral attitude, especially among individuals who travel to a complex frequently. The theoretical implications in this paper are intended to guide the service improvement of CPLGSs and other parking guidance systems.