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Prof Phil Blythe, Dr Neil Thorpe, Dr Jenny Brake, Mr Richard Fairchild
EPSRC, Department for Transport and Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform through the Future Intelligent Transport Systems research programme2007-2010, £325,788
The aim of the Foot-LITE project is to design a revolutionary in-vehicle information system to encourage safer and greener driving and long term behavioural changes.
By means of innovative driver/vehicle interface systems and services, the Foot-LITE project aims to educate drivers by highlighting the impacts of particular driving styles in real time and by advocating behaviours which:
* Are safer
* Reduce congestion
* Enhance sustainability
* Help reduce traffic pollution emissions
* Reduce other social and environmental impacts
The typical characteristics of efficient, green and safe driving which the Foot-LITE project aims to encourage are:
Efficient driving
* Not filling the fuel tank right up since the extra weight reduces fuel efficiency
* Limiting the use of air conditioning and other electrical devices within the car (such as de-misters and heaters) as these increase the load on the alternator, causing extra fuel usage
* Checking tyre pressure regularly to minimise tread wear and fuel consumption
Green driving
* Reducing short journeys since journeys of less than 2 miles cause the most pollution and a cold engine produces 60% more pollution than a warm one
* Finding ways to reduce the amount of time the vehicle is stationary whilst the engine is running
Safe driving
* Planning ahead so that drivers are more aware of hazards – for example geo-fencing could alert the driver when the vehicle approaches a school or hospital zone
* Adhering to speed limits, thereby reducing the risk of collision and injury, and reducing fuel consumption by up to 24%
The role of Newcastle University is to support the strong industry base in the project and to assist in the delivery of a credible validation of the system with major contributions being made in the areas of concept development, user requirements, trials and evaluation.
The Foot-LITE system is seen as a support tool to enable drivers to achieve very real benefits which cannot be readily maximised without an advisory interface. However, the approach has the ultimate choice and control still resting with the individual and this is seen to be crucial to the public and commercial acceptability of Foot-LITE.