Monitoring the Effects of Bad Driving

In an effort to improve gas mileage, 400 drivers in Denver participated in an experiment that tracked and reported the bad driving habits -- idling, rapid accelerating and braking -- that waste fuel. Faced with the data, driving habits have changed.

1 minute read

February 3, 2009, 12:00 PM PST

By Nate Berg

"For nearly a year, every time a group of Denver drivers stomped on the gas pedal, slammed on the brake or spent an extra minute idling at the curb, the actions were recorded by a device called an accelerometer and assessed for effects on gas consumption."

"The drivers -- half of them city employees and half residents who volunteered for the constant surveillance -- were subjects in a city experiment to see whether motorists would drop aggressive driving habits when they saw how much gasoline they were burning."

"Over seven months, the 400 drivers cut their tailgating, hard braking and speeding -- and improved their gas mileage by 10%, according to results released last week."

FULL STORY: The high cost of bad driving habits

Monday, February 2, 2009 in Los Angeles Times

Energy Technology Transportation Colorado Denver Driving Driving Habits Gas Mileage View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.