scope:

INTRODUCTION

System Development Corporation (SDC) has performed a study to survey the characteristic use patterns of privately operated automobiles in the Los Angeles urban area. The study was conducted under research contract to the Coordinating Research Council, Inc., (CRC). The purpose of the study was to obtain data necessary to develop a composite average driving pattern that would serve as a basis for designing new test cycles for vehicle emission control devices. The collection, reduction, and analysis of these data are the subject of this report.

During the study SDC Installed automatic information recording devices--called Tachographs--in 199 privately operated automobiles volunteered by Los Angeles area residents. The data records from these instruments as well as information obtained from log books maintained by each of the volunteer participants have been reduced and analyzed. This document presents a description of the techniques used to obtain and analyze the data and a discussion of the study results.

The report is organized in three parts. The first presents the results of the study in narrative and tabular form as well as an analysis and evaluation of the study findings. The second part discusses the survey technique in terms of general procedures, sample design and selection, and data collection. The third part details the data reduction and analysis procedures. In addition, appendices are included which provide amplifying data for the entire document.