Evaluating the Environmental and Safety Impacts of Eco-Driving in Urban and Highway Environments

The present study aims to investigate the benefits of eco-driving in urban areas and on highways through an experiment conducted in a driving simulator. Within a group of 39 participants aged 18–30, multiple driving scenarios were conducted, both without and with eco-driving guides, to assess the impact of eco-driving behavior on environmental sustainability and safety outcomes. Data on pollutant emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as crash probability, were collected during the experiment. The relationships between driving behavior and pollutant emissions were estimated using linear regression models, while binary logistic regression models were employed to assess crash probability. The analysis revealed that eco-driving led to a significant reduction in pollutant emissions, with CO2 emissions decreasing by 1.42%, CO by 98.2%, and NOx by 20.7% across both urban and highway environments, with a more substantial impact in urban settings due to lower average speeds and smoother driving patterns. Furthermore, eco-driving reduced crash probability by 90.0%, with urban areas exhibiting an 86.8% higher crash likelihood compared to highways due to higher traffic density and more complex driving conditions. These findings highlight the dual benefit of eco-driving in reducing environmental impact and improving road safety. This study supports the integration of eco-driving techniques into transportation policies and driver education programs to foster sustainable and safer driving practices.