They avoid them to eliminate flat tires.
Posted on 04/06/2014 7:26:42 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
In 2004, UPS announced a new policy for its drivers: the right way to get to any destination was to avoid left-hand turns. Even if that means following this route that a UPS driver described to an incredulous press member:
"We're gonna make a right turn onto 135th to Western. We'll make another right on Western down to 139th. Righ turn on 139th and go down to the end of the block and we'll make another right turn."
When better tracking systems emerged in 2001, the package delivery service took a closer look at how trucks performed when delivering packages. As a logistics company with some 96,000 trucks and several hundred aircraft, much of UPS's business can be distilled to a series of optimization problems around reducing the amount of fuel used, saving time, and using space more efficiently. (Trucks in UPS facilities park just a few inches apart with their side mirrors overlapping to save space.)
UPS engineers found that left-hand turns were a major drag on efficiency. Turning against traffic resulted in long waits in left-hand turn lanes that wasted time and fuel, and it also led to a disproportionate number of accidents. By mapping out routes that involved "a series of right-hand loops," UPS improved profits and safety while touting their catchy, environmentally friendly policy. As of 2012, the right turn rule combined with other improvements -- for the wow factor, UPS doesn't separate them out -- saved around 10 million gallons of gas and reduced emissions by the equivalent of taking 5,300 cars of the road for a year.
Describing the policy in a speech, the CEO of UPS told his audience, "I can see a few of you smiling out there, and I know what you may be thinking. But it really works."
If you don't believe it, well, that's why Mythbusters exists. The program sent a truck out to deliver packages following a normal route and a left turn hating UPS route. They found the UPS approach saved gas but took a bit longer:
Mythbusters likely failed to save time on the route by following the rule even more stringently than UPS. While the no left turn rule has an appealingly simple and algorithmic quality to it, you will see UPS drivers take left turns on occasion, especially in residential neighborhoods without much incoming traffic. Asked how often UPS drivers turn right, a driver told ABC:
"A guesstimate, I would probably say 90%. I mean we really, really hate left turns at UPS."
Since UPS uses software to map out routes, it can send drivers on right turn heavy routes while making exceptions when a left turn is easier and faster. As an amicable senior VP of the company said in an interview about the rule, "That's why I love the engineers, they just love to continue to figure out how to make it better."
My first thought as well.
Having to do the “Michigan left” turn must drive the UPS drivers nuts.
Well not only for safety but also as a symbolic gesture you don’t want to give liberals any ideas that because you turn left you support their murderous, Marxist, Fascist, commie, Islamo terror supporting, socialist, criminal supporting butts, sodomy loving butts. So going right is always right.
I drive a small SUV and I avoid left turns unless there is a traffic light. Rights are easier, by far.
What’s their policy on u-turns?
What about left-hand turns from dedicated lanes with arrows? They’re quite safe, I’d think.
:)
They are required to be done in pairs.
Those are ok, but it’s uncontrolled situations that are dangerous.
“To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the ‘U-turn’, I have only one thing to say: ‘You turn [U-turn] if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.’ — Thatcher
Come to New Jersey. With the Jug handles you can't make a left in New Jersey without making a right first.
And yes, they are great. I don't miss left turn signals at all
They avoid them to eliminate flat tires.
THAT WAS FUNNY !!
Now we can't have that. That's a $2 million "loss" for the Federal Government. That is $2 MILLION that UPS stole from the poor and helpless chil'run who will wake up tomorrow morning and face another day without a warm cafeteria breakfast... Well, I guess we'll just have to make right hand turns illegal and jack up delivery fee taxes. THAT will show'em!
They are precise about their routes. I gotta give ‘em that. I missed a very important signature-required delivery once. I called UPS to ask if I could go to the driver’s hub at the end of his shift to get the package. They radioed the driver and told me to meet him at the corner of such-and-such streets at 6:03. They cautioned me not to be 30 seconds late because he’d leave. I was early. He rolled up on the DOT at 6:03:01.
Don't forget our ultra safe traffic circles.
I've been rear ended twice
Clever observation!
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