Evaluating Household Chauffeuring Burdens

Household chauffeuring (also called escort, serve passenger and caregiving travel) refers to personal motor vehicle travel specifically made to transport independent non-drivers (people who could travel on their own if they had suitable travel options). This additional vehicle travel imposes various direct and indirect costs. This paper identifies factors that affect the amount of chauffeuring that occurs in a community. It develops a Chauffeuring Burden Index, which can be used to quantify chauffeuring costs and therefore the savings and benefits of transport improvements that reduce chauffeuring burdens. This analysis indicates that in automobile dependent communities, chauffeuring costs often exceed congestion costs. As a result, motorists often benefit from improved transport options that reduce their chauffeuring burdens even if they do not use those options themselves. Presented at the 2015 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Paper 15-4458 Evaluating Household Chauffeuring Burdens Victoria Transport Policy Institute