DRIVER COMPLIANCE WITH IDLING TIME LIMITS

Many Swedish urban local authorities have passed a bye-law prohibiting car drivers from allowing their car engines from idling for over a minute. The aim is to reduce pollution and fuel waste. Road signs have been installed to remind drivers of this law, where they enter built-up areas, and where car drivers are likely to be waiting. This paper finds that the theoretical basis for this law is reasonably sound, and presents visual observations and a postal survey, both of which indicated that many drivers do not obey the law. 1000 copies of the questionnaire were posted and 170 replies were received within two weeks; a reasonably varied set of drivers responded. The survey questions were divided into five groups, of which the first was personal and general driving information. The other groups discussed stopping behaviour. Most drivers favoured a maximum idling time, and many considered one minute a reasonable limit. Drivers were likely to switch off their engines when stopped in a traffic jam or waiting for various purposes; often, they did not know how long they would have to wait. There was no definite factor discouraging drivers from switching off. The opinion of drivers was divided about whether stricter enforcement of the law or reminder signs or higher fuel prices would encourage them to switch off.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410683
• Corporate Authors:

  Hemming Group, Limited

  32 Vauxhall Bridge Road
  London,   United Kingdom  SW1V 2SS
• Authors:
  • Dougherty, M
  • Burghout, W
• Publication Date: 2000-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 60-3
• Serial:
  • Traffic Engineering & Control
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0041-0683
  • Serial URL: http://www.tecmagazine.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automobiles; Behavior; Drivers; Engine idling; Incentives; Interviewing; Legislation; Local government agencies; Motors; Prevention; Theory; Time; Traffic delays; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9001: Behaviour; 1243: Car; 9010: Delay; 1772: Driver; 1808: Idling (engine); 9147: Interview; 1556: Legislation; 192: Local authority; 1334: Motor; 9149: Prevention; 1578: Reward (incentive); 8109: Sweden; 9078: Theory; 5414: Time; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795055
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 7 2000 12:00AM