Motivating the selfish to stop idling: Self-interest cues can improve environmentally relevant driver behaviour

Van de Vyver, J.; Abrams, D.; Hopthrow, T.; Purewal, K.; Randsley de Moura, G.; Meleady, R.

Abstract

Air pollution has a huge and negative impact on society, and idling engines are a major contributor to air pollution. The current paper draws on evolutionary models of environmental behaviour to test whether appeals to self-interest can encourage drivers to turn off their engines at long wait stops. Using an experimental design, drivers were shown one of three self-interest appeals (financial, health, kin) while waiting at a congested level-crossing site in the UK. Results showed that all three self-interest appeals increased the chances of drivers turning off their engines compared to the control condition. Specifically, drivers were approximately twice as likely to turn off their engines in the self-interest conditions (39–41% compliance) compared to drivers in the control condition (22% compliance). Thus, self-interest motives can be effective for promoting pro-environmental behavioural compliance. Theoretical and applied implications of this research are discussed.

Citation

Van de Vyver, J., Abrams, D., Hopthrow, T., Purewal, K., Randsley de Moura, G., & Meleady, R. (2018). Motivating the selfish to stop idling: Self-interest cues can improve environmentally relevant driver behaviour. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 54, 79-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2018.01.015

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 22, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Feb 14, 2018
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Sep 6, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 7, 2018
• Journal: Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
• Print ISSN: 1369-8478
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-5517
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 54
• Pages: 79-85
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2018.01.015
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1315562
• Related Public URLs: http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/31138/