About

Idling vehicles cause microclimates of poor air quality and this poor air quality adversely affects our health. It can be particularly harmful to children and people with underlying health conditions. Also, our region periodically experiences some of the worst air quality in the country which compounds the health burden of idling vehicles.

The University of Utah, Utah State University, Intermountain Healthcare, Bear River Charter School and the Salt Lake City School District are partnering to develop new strategies to reduce concentrated idling at drop-off/pick-up zones. Our project is inspired by digital speed displays which are effective to reduce vehicle speeding and traffic accidents. Specifically, we are measuring local air quality and the number of idling vehicles. These measurements will be incorporated with community community-crafted messages and sent to a dynamic digital display. This study is helping us understand what types of measurements and messages are effective in changing vehicle idling behavior.