Mitigation Techniques to Modify Driver Performance to Improve Fuel Economy, Reduce Emissions and Improve Safety

Gao, Song; Ni, Daiheng · 2016 · ROSA P / Massachusetts. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Transportation Planning

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Summary

This study, conducted by the University of Massachusetts for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), investigates behavioral interventions to improve fuel economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance safety. Motivated by MassDOT’s GreenDOT Implementation Plan, the research addresses the significant environmental and safety impacts of vehicular transportation, which accounts for 70% of U.S. petroleum use and 28% of greenhouse gas emissions. The project evaluates low-cost, readily applicable measures—specifically in-vehicle feedback devices and classroom eco-driving training—as alternatives to expensive technological upgrades that require long phase-in periods. The methodology involved a field test using 133 MassDOT vehicles equipped with GreenRoad Inc. devices that provided real-time feedback on driving performance. Drivers were divided into four groups to assess the effects of feedback, training, both, or neither. The study comprised three chronological phases: a baseline period with no interventions, an intervention period where selected groups received real-time feedback and/or 1.5-hour classroom eco-driving training conducted by a University of Vermont trainer, and an "off" period where feedback was discontinued. Data analysis utilized regression models to evaluate changes in fuel economy, idling rates, speeding, and aggressive acceleration across these phases. The results demonstrated that real-time feedback significantly reduced speeding and aggressive acceleration. Notably, this effect persisted for pickup trucks even after the feedback devices were removed, whereas the benefits disappeared for sedans and SUVs once the intervention ended. Classroom training significantly reduced idling rates during the first month following the session. The literature synthesis confirmed that idling, speeding, and aggressive acceleration are primary contributors to fuel inefficiency, emissions, and unsafe driving. Consequently, the data suggests that combining training and feedback yields the most substantial improvements in fuel economy, emission reduction, and safety. The study concludes that behavioral modifications are effective, cost-efficient strategies for fleet management. It recommends that MassDOT implement both real-time feedback and classroom training to maximize effectiveness. Specifically, the authors suggest combining real-time feedback with periodic self-evaluation and agency monitoring, while training should be conducted by internal trainers certified by external experts, supplemented by customized online modules for refresher courses. These findings support the broader adoption of eco-driving techniques as a viable method for meeting transportation sustainability and safety goals without relying solely on vehicle hardware changes.

Key finding

Real-time feedback significantly reduced speeding and aggressive acceleration with sustained effects for pickup trucks after device removal, while classroom training significantly reduced idling rates in the first month.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 133

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• eco driving
• in vehicle coaching
• exposure measurement

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence
• Methodological Resource: tool software