"But I already know how to drive" - exploring intervention strategies and systemic barriers to eco-driving in public transport

Paper in proceeding, 2013

An attractive bus system is an important part of sustainable mobility, but its environmental impact can be decreased. Encouraging bus drivers to adopt eco-driving is one way of achieving this. As eco-driving requires bus drivers to change their driving behaviour, behaviour change intervention strategies are helpful in accomplishing this. However, there are problems with achieving the potential of eco-driving interventions. Therefore, the primary aim of this paper is to relate bus drivers’ views of eco-driving and the problems they face when attempting to change their behaviour with the help of eco-driving interventions. The secondary aim is to discuss the consequences of this when designing interventions to promote eco-driving in the future. The paper is based on data from two studies: one interview study with bus drivers regarding their work situation (n=20), and one field trial (n=54) aimed at testing the effects of two eco-driving interventions in buses. The studies reveal consensus among the drivers that eco-driving is important and they are positive to the concept, but they are divided over if eco-driving promotion is necessary. Drivers are knowledgeable on eco-driving but find it hard to translate from theory to practice. The studies exposed a multitude of barriers to the adoption of eco-driving that drivers face in their day-to-day work. These barriers relate to their occupation, the organisation in which they work, and the urban environment in which they drive. In order to overcome these barriers a systemic approach is necessary, applying a coordinated intervention system with a combination of informational and structural strategies.