Research in Utah Suggests Stronger Policies May Be Needed To Encourage Travel Behavior Changes During Periods of Poor Air Quality
Posted: Feb 10, 2025
Research at Utah State University suggests that travelers who adjust their travel behavior in response to area-wide pollution do so as a "risk averse" reaction rather than for "altruistic" reasons. This suggests that newer or stronger policies may be needed to reduce driving and encourage more sustainable and healthful travel behavior changes in regions when faced with periods of area-wide poor air quality. The research informs stakeholders in air quality and transportation by highlighting the aggregate behavior of travelers during periods of area-wide air pollution, such as that caused by wintertime inversions, summertime ozone, or wildfire smoke. These findings are especially relevant for efforts to affect changes in travel and other health-related behaviors through air quality alerts.
Research at Utah State University suggests that travelers who adjust their travel behavior in response to area-wide pollution do so as a "risk averse" reaction rather than for "altruistic" reasons. This suggests that newer or stronger policies may be needed to reduce driving and encourage more sustainable and healthful travel behavior changes in regions when faced with periods of area-wide poor air quality. The research informs stakeholders in air quality and transportation by highlighting the aggregate behavior of travelers during periods of area-wide air pollution, such as that caused by wintertime inversions, summertime ozone, or wildfire smoke. These findings are especially relevant for efforts to affect changes in travel and other health-related behaviors through air quality alerts.