The aim of the study was to measure the effects of the education in environmental friendly driving that is included in the Swedish driver education for license class B. Measurements have been taken on fuel consumption and a selection of driving behaviours typical for environmental friendly driving among drivers with license since half a year. The drivers were asked how much education in environmental friendly driving they have received. Their answers were used to define a group of 25 drivers with much such education (group M) and a group of 25 drivers with little or none such education (group L). These drivers have driven an instrumented car along a pre-defined road of 30 km where 12 parts were used to collect data about fuel consumption and a selection of different driving behaviours. As a reference, an expert/educator in environmental friendly driving “E” has also driven the same road as the others with the purpose of indicating what is possible to achieve. The results, based on a number of hypotheses, showed for example: • group M consumed less fuel than group L in total and on all the 12 sub-roads • group M was driving with lower speed than group L in total and on all the 12 sub-roads • group M generally used the brake less than group L on 4 of the 12 sub-roads • group M used the brake less than group L when approaching a STOP sign • group M used the clutch less frequent than group L on 1 of the 12 sub-roads • in none of the measured behaviours, none of group L or M reached the level of E A conclusion from the study and the different results is that the education in environmental friendly driving during driver licensing has had an effect on fuel consumption. The results show that group M used 4.0 litres per hour over all sub roads while group L used 4.38, which was 8.7 percent lower in group M than in group L. The results also show that the full potential effect has not been reached since E was driving the same roads with a significantly lower consumption. An important explanation is to be found in the results of the behavior measurements. Some of the behaviours, rpm level, driving with zero consumption downhill and use of brake and clutch in more uncomplicated situations, group M shows a more environmental friendly driving behaviour. (Author/publisher)
Abstract