There is an increasing concern about the quality of our environment. As a consequence of the high energy use and emission of detrimental gases, traffic and transport impose heavily on the environment. However, even without reducing car use, there is a considerable potential to economise on the required energies. Results of a German experiment show that adaption of one's driving style, may lead to a reduction of at least 10% of the fuel consumption per kilometre driven. This driving style would require a controlled and defensive driving behaviour, focusing on driving speed, acceleration, deceleration and handling of gears. On the basis of these findings the ANWB, financially supported by NOVEM, has developed the course "energiebewust autorijden" ("energy economical driving"). The course primarily addresses the learning of a number of skills and driving techniques, in order to reduce the fuel consumption per kilometre. The course consists of two parts, one dealing with the theory and one focusing on practical skills. The theory module is a class teaching of about two and a half hours, in which explications are given of the most important skills and the relevant background information. In the module addressing practical skills, participants are required to practice on the road for about one hour and a half under the supervision of a driving instructor. The Traffic Research Centre of the University of Groningen has conducted an evaluation study, in order to investigate the effects of the course on: the knowledge of skills and techniques necessary for an energy economical driving style, the attitude with regard to such a driving style and the actual behaviour. Fifty-one co-workers of the National Police Services (KLPD) volunteered to participate in the experiment. The findings in this study show that participants were generally positive about the content and presentation of the course Energy Economical Driving. They indicated that sufficient attention was given to the various subjects and that the duration of the course was adequate. They believed it to be important to be aware of the energy the car uses, and indicated that, quite often, they would be able to apply the acquired techniques for energy economical driving. Furthermore the answers showed that participants had not only become aware of their own driving behaviour, they had also acquired the new driving style, as well as techniques for the correct handling of gears and factual knowledge. However, the course, either consisting of the theoretical and the practical module, or only of the theoretical module, did not lead to a significant change in their attitude towards energy economical driving. One explanation for this could be that, prior to the course, the target group which consisted of police personnel only, may already have possessed, actually or for social desirability motives, a positive attitude. Other findings show that there were effects of the theory module on the respondents’ knowledge concerning Energy economical driving, for instance with regard to surplus fuel consumption when using the air conditioning or police lights, or a low tyre-pressure. Participation in neither the entire course nor only the theory module did lead to an observable reduction in fuel consumption. However, one month after having attended the course, a positive trend was observed among the participants towards driving more economically. Yet most of the participants indicated that they actually changed their driving style. The adaptations most frequently mentioned were for instance: proper handling of gears, driving more calmly and more controlled, general reduction of driving speeds, reduction in the number of times braking on the motor, limiting their use of `energy-swallowers' (air conditioner, window heater and so on), increasing their anticipation, and a smoother acceleration. The fact that these reported behavioural changes did not seem to affect the fuel consumption, may be due to the fact that the behavioural changes were too limited or too short-lived. Often, particularly when they are frequently on the road, motorists acquire rather fixed habits in their driving style. Changing these habits and subsequently maintaining a new driving style, will require a great deal of effort, especially when there is no regular feedback. In the light of this, it seems likely that initially the participants of the course seriously attempted to drive in a more energy economical manner, but as time went by their driving style slipped again into their old habits. (A)
Samenvatting