The impact of socio-demographic characteristics and driving behaviors on fuel efficiency

Abstract Fuel efficiency intuitively differs between drivers, depending on their socio-demographic characteristics and driving behavior, and can change even for the same driver in different driving environments. In this work, we examine the impact of socio-demographic characteristics, driving behavior on fuel efficiency using naturalistic driving data collected from a busy freeway in Austin, Texas. Our results show that during off-peak period, fuel efficiency is negatively correlated with commute frequency. Furthermore, fuel efficiency is also closely related to commute purpose, age and gender. During peak period, female drivers’ fuel efficiency is worse, while correlations with other socio-demographic characteristics become less prominent. In terms of driving behavior, high-speed drivers with higher average speeds and less speed variance achieve the best fuel efficiency during both peak and off-peak hours. Our study sheds lights on specific eco-friendly driving behavior and education can be targeted at those who tend to consume more fuel.