Eco-driving in rural areas: a sustainable approach to reducing emissions and enhancing road safety

• Eco-driving reduced crash risk by 66.2 % in simulated rural conditions. • CO 2 , CO, and NO x emissions decreased by 5.9 %, 29.3 %, and 34.7 %, respectively. • Fuel consumption declined by 7 % under eco-driving protocols. • Eco-driving efficacy confirmed via high-fidelity driving simulation models. Due to the growing challenges of road safety in light of environmental demands, the adoption of eco-driving practices presents a viable strategy for minimizing crash risks and lowering pollutant emissions. This study aims to examine the advantages of eco-driving in rural and mountainous rural settings by employing an experimental methodology with a driving simulator. Data was collected from 39 participants across a range of driving simulation scenarios, both before and after the implementation of eco-driving instruction. Furthermore, the characteristics of the participants were gathered evaluated through a questionnaire survey. Every participant undertook two drives for each simulation scenario, first under standard driving conditions and then with the implementation of eco-driving principles. In order to evaluate the effects of eco-driving on fuel consumption, crash probability, and pollutant emissions (CO 2 , CO, and NO x ), linear and logistic regression models were implemented. The key findings indicate that eco-driving significantly reduces pollutant emissions (e.g., CO 2 by 5.9 %, CO by 29.3 %, and NO x by 34.7 %), reduces fuel consumption by 7 %, and reduces the probability of crashes by 66.2 %. Quantitative analysis confirmed that mountainous rural networks, due to their topographical complexity, are associated with higher emissions, increased fuel consumption, and elevated crash risk compared to flatter rural environments, highlighting the need for terrain-specific eco-driving strategies. The findings highlight the promise of eco-driving practices in improving environmental sustainability and safety, particularly in rural environments. This supports the integration of eco-driving techniques into transportation policy and driver training programs aimed at fostering sustainable and safe driving behaviors.