COMMUTERS\u27 CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE EFFECTS OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS

This paper investigates relationships between environmental concerns, knowledge of vehicle emissions, and emission reducing behaviors. Attitudes towards the environment and knowledge of the polluting effects of vehicle emissions were surveyed in 566 train and bus commuters, private motor vehicle commuters and smoky vehicle commuters. Results showed that environmental concern was significantly correlated with level of contribution to an environmental organization, but not with levels of environmental attitudes or emissions knowledge. Smoky vehicle drivers did not have lower levels of knowledge of emissions or lower levels of environmental concern compared to other private motor vehicle commuters. Train commuters showed no greater concern for the environment than car commuters. These findings suggest that a policy that aims to change emission behavior by improving environmental attitudes and knowledge will not reinforce a preexisting relationship, and is likely to be ineffective