BERLIN, June 17 (UPI) -- Drivers in Germany said in a survey they're willing to accept longer journey times and even detours if it means a stress-free commute.
In a study carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems along with the Berlin Technical University into driving habits and attitudes towards road traffic, two-thirds of respondents said they would rather have a stress-free trip even if it meant adding more than 3 minutes to their journey.
Seventy-five percent said they would even be willing to take a detour, a Fraunhofer release said Monday.
In the survey, 120 motorists had agreed to provide information about their driving habits and attitudes towards road traffic.
Researchers said the findings suggest compelling reasons to develop automotive communication technologies that will guide motorists around streets in a manner that evens out traffic flows and produces environmentally friendly traffic patterns.
The scientists said they are working on systems that can help motorists avoid traffic jams and take routes that result in the smallest amount of exhaust emissions, using advance traffic warnings and driving recommendations sent to their navigation system or smartphone.
