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University of Cyprus study: Staggered school starts can reduce traffic
Researchers from the University of Cyprus have published a study in the journal ‘Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies’ suggesting that staggered school start times can significantly reduce urban morning traffic congestion.
The study, conducted by Antonis Georgantis, Stelios Timotheou, and Christos G. Panagiotou at the ‘Koios’ Center of Excellence for Research and Innovation, utilized a mathematical model simulating an urban environment with 50 schools. The findings indicate that differentiating school start times by an average of just 12 minutes per school could lead to a reduction of up to 17.2% in the total time vehicles spend on the road network.
Traffic congestion is often exacerbated when schools start simultaneously, as parents dropping off children and commuters heading to work converge on the road network at the same time. The researchers noted that even employees with flexible working hours are often forced into peak travel times due to fixed school schedules.
Entities
Antonis Georgantis · Christos G. Panagiotou · Kois Center of Excellence for Research and Innovation · Stelios Timotheou · Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies · University of Cyprus
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Researchers from the University of Cyprus conducted a study on school start times and traffic congestion. athina984.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.tanea.gr · www.thetoc.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Research has found a 4.5% increase in the probability of congestion when schools start at the same time. athina984.gr · www.tanea.gr · www.thetoc.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] A study in Beijing recorded a 20% lower congestion index during school holidays compared to school terms. athina984.gr · www.tanea.gr · www.thetoc.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The study used a mathematical model simulating an urban environment with 50 schools. athina984.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.tanea.gr · www.thetoc.gr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] An average difference of 12 minutes in school start times could reduce total vehicle time on road networks by up to 17.2%. www.ertnews.gr