Sep 28: Most people know that driving faster can be dangerous. But what if it also costs us much more fuel, money, and energy than we realize?
Bharat Jayaprakash, a fifth-year Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, and his colleagues wanted to understand the bigger picture. The team analyzed more than 120 million vehicle trips from across the United States. They compared real-world driving with a scenario in which vehicles stayed within posted speed limits.
For Bharat, the surprising part was how small that time difference was compared with the potential savings. The research also raises broader questions about how driving behavior affects emissions and how autonomous vehicles could interact with human drivers on the road.
Sometimes, a small change in how millions of people drive can add up to a very big difference.
The latest episode of Curious by Nature, “Does Speeding Save You Time and Money?,” featuring Bharat Jayaprakash, is now available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Curious by Nature, presented by Newswise, is a podcast for curious people. In each episode, listeners can briefly travel into the fascinating world that comes with years of dedication to a field of study. Be inspired by the many amazing things that are going on right now, some of which may have a major effect on our lives. Enjoy this concentrated knowledge from experts. We hope you find inspiration in glimpses of innovation, dedication, and discovery.
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