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

Paper i 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.