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How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

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Re: How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

#21

Post by dorfsmay »

mstade wrote: post #8

> In the US, and other countries where you drive on the right side of the road, right turns are free, but for a left turn you need to wait for a green light. I don't know of any other country than the US where turning right on red is allowed, unless there's specific signage or additional traffic lights to allow it. Indeed, the turn-on-red rule in the US seems to work inverse to how I've seen it elsewhere – i.e. it's…

Turning right on red is one of those idea that once you've been exposed to it you wonder why isn't everybody adopting it...

A similar idea is the train system in Munich where they built their platforms such that they can open doors on both sides, making one side of the train the exit, and the other side the entrance. Ever since I saw that, every single time I wait for people getting off a crowded train, I wonder "Why?".

Re: How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

#24

Post by dx034 »

Unbeliever69 wrote: post #2

It's funny because occasionally my wife will tell me to take a certain route to a destination because that is what her traffic app told her was the fastest route. I'll disagree on the basis of this experiment; that the "fastest route" has too many left turns and that my route is better because it has fewer. Needless to say, she is never amused. Maybe after this news I'll be vindicated!

Wasn't Waze known to prefer routes that consisted of an incredible amount of left turns and small roads? Haven't checked if they changed the algorithm. Found that Google Maps is hard to beat on their preferred route usually.

Re: How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

#25

Post by bisby »

helipad wrote: post #19
mstade wrote: post #8

> In the US, and other countries where you drive on the right side of the road, right turns are free, but for a left turn you need to wait for a green light. I don't know of any other country than the US where turning right on red is allowed, unless there's specific signage or additional traffic lights to allow it. Indeed, the turn-on-red rule in the US seems to work inverse to how I've seen it elsewhere – i.e. it's…

My brother came to Michigan to visit from the UK. After a few days he said: "So, I can go on a red light for a right turn, but sometimes I have to wait at a green light for a left turn?" It was then I realised how peculiar the signals in the US can be.

If you have to cross lanes of traffic, you have to wait for a light. If you are merely "changing lanes" you just have to wait for right of way.

(in my state at least) you're allowed to turn left from a one way to a one way on red, because you're not crossing any other lanes.

So do the math... how many lanes are involved. If it's just "current lane" and "target lane", you can go when the coast is clear. If there are ANY other lanes involved, wait for a light.

Re: How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

#26

Post by alextheparrot »

dorfsmay wrote: post #21
mstade wrote: post #8

> In the US, and other countries where you drive on the right side of the road, right turns are free, but for a left turn you need to wait for a green light. I don't know of any other country than the US where turning right on red is allowed, unless there's specific signage or additional traffic lights to allow it. Indeed, the turn-on-red rule in the US seems to work inverse to how I've seen it elsewhere – i.e. it's…

Turning right on red is one of those idea that once you've been exposed to it you wonder why isn't everybody adopting it... A similar idea is the train system in Munich where they built their platforms such that they can open doors on both sides, making one side of the train the exit, and the other side the entrance. Ever since I saw that, every single time I wait for people getting off a crowded train, I wonder "Why…

There's an elevator in one of the London tube stations like this (Everyone uses the elevator, like 150 stairs). Just makes so much sense, moves so many more people that way.

Re: How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

#27

Post by dx034 »

briankwest wrote: post #5

Yes they may save money doing this, but when you do that follow your driver for your delivery thing they just came out with, It looks like your driver is on crack the travel patterns make no sense. No order. They are all over the place, similar to how Delta does connecting flights.

Worth mentioning that many drivers will be self-employed and have no such software. UPS seems to give all drivers a software with a route to follow, many others won't bother (as they pay the driver by delivery).

Re: How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

#28

Post by snrplfth »

dorfsmay wrote: post #21
mstade wrote: post #8

> In the US, and other countries where you drive on the right side of the road, right turns are free, but for a left turn you need to wait for a green light. I don't know of any other country than the US where turning right on red is allowed, unless there's specific signage or additional traffic lights to allow it. Indeed, the turn-on-red rule in the US seems to work inverse to how I've seen it elsewhere – i.e. it's…

Turning right on red is one of those idea that once you've been exposed to it you wonder why isn't everybody adopting it... A similar idea is the train system in Munich where they built their platforms such that they can open doors on both sides, making one side of the train the exit, and the other side the entrance. Ever since I saw that, every single time I wait for people getting off a crowded train, I wonder "Why…

It's not as commonly done because it's considerably more expensive to build triple platforms, and the bends required to make it work slow the train down and cause wear. It's good for high-capacity stations though.

Re: How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

#29

Post by fosco »

mstade wrote: post #8

> In the US, and other countries where you drive on the right side of the road, right turns are free, but for a left turn you need to wait for a green light. I don't know of any other country than the US where turning right on red is allowed, unless there's specific signage or additional traffic lights to allow it. Indeed, the turn-on-red rule in the US seems to work inverse to how I've seen it elsewhere – i.e. it's…

Keep in mind everywhere in NYC unless noted does not allow right on red. however on Long Island and in Upstate New York it is typically allowed unless noted. laws not only vary by state but also by locality [pardon if this is not the correct usage of the term]

Re: How UPS trucks saved millions of dollars by eliminating left turns

#30

Post by f_allwein »

mstade wrote: post #8

> In the US, and other countries where you drive on the right side of the road, right turns are free, but for a left turn you need to wait for a green light. I don't know of any other country than the US where turning right on red is allowed, unless there's specific signage or additional traffic lights to allow it. Indeed, the turn-on-red rule in the US seems to work inverse to how I've seen it elsewhere – i.e. it's…

It's legal to turn right at a red light in parts of Germany (if there s a sign saying so at the traffic light). One of the few things that were adopted from East Germany after the reunification. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grünpfeil
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