Most people save fuel by investing in a more efficient car, using a satnav or lowering their speed, but over the last decade, the courier company UPS has saved 37 million litres of diesel by insisting that its drivers avoid making turns against oncoming traffic.
Waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic before making a turn costs the company time and fuel. Insisting that UPS delivery drivers in America always make a right turn has reduced the company’s carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking 5,300 cars off the road for an entire year.
Elizabeth Rasberry from UPS explained “A significant cause of idling time resulted from drivers making left turns, essentially going against the flow of traffic. From there we explored routes where these turns were cut out entirely, and then compared data. Even if this meant traveling a greater distance, results showed that more packages could be delivered in less time with reduced emissions by driving in a series of right-hand loops. It helped the bottom line, met consumer demands and increased safety.”
Making a right turn on American roads is easier at many junctions because drivers are permitted to cross a red traffic light if they give way.
Tips to save fuel
- Slow down. Stressed driving can be erratic and is uneconomical. Driving at 50-60 mph means your emissions will be lowest. Driving over 70mph will rapidly increase your emissions. It can cost you up to 25% more in fuel to drive at 70mph compared to 50mph
- Air conditioning should be limited as it uses more fuel
- Switch off the engine if you think you will stationary for more than two minutes
- Careful motorway driving improves safety and traffic flow and lowers fuel consumption
- Where possible drive with the windows up to reduce drag and your fuel consumption
Tim
hmmm… aren’t we in the United Kingdom (where, you’d be best informed, we drive on the left)? So give us facts that apply – unless ETA is US-based. The headline and intro is completely wrong.
Tim
Soree…just read your article again, slowly!
Jenny
So, which is the best of two evils? Air conditioning or driving with the windows down? Both are advised against in the tips to reduce fuel consumption.
Alan
Jenny – as far as I understand, open windows cause similar percentage increases in fuel consumption for large and small engined cars. Air con causes a smaller percentage increase in consumption for larger engined cars. So maybe air con is better if you have a larger engine and open windows for a small motor? Hmmm – need some more authoritative thoughts here…
David
Driving at 50-60 miles per hour is not possible or legal in most of London. It certainly would not involve slowing down.
For motorway drivers a better tip would be to take the train if you have to travel long distances or at least make sure your car is full with 4-5 people.
Driving over 70mph uses lots of fuel – it is also illegal.
Anthony Taffs
The drag from open windows below about 40mph is probably not significant. Above that speed, noise and draught would add to your discomfort, so you might choose to close the windows.
Air-con: have it on when you want it but don’t forget it. There’s obviously a small cost involved. Does anyone have the definitive answer?
Anthony
Aircon or windows? Is just full fan a possibility? Driving at night can help, when it’s cooler and there’s less traffic. You can also go at your own pace, rather than others’. Otherwise, mornings are cooler than afternoons.
It’s usually difficult to drive at 50mph on UK motorways nowadays. People behind aren’t looking far enough ahead to spot your little obstruction, or can’t see you in time, then get frustrated trying to pull out. 60 is easier, tends to be what the heavies are doing. I do a mix.
Abi
Above about 40 MPH you should definitely keep your windows shut (the noise will highlight the drag being caused!), so a short burst of air conditioning that is not too much cooler than ambient temperature (just enough to make the car comfortable) is better than having the window open. If you dress appropriately that will help too – having to crank up the air con when you’re wearing a jacket is never going to be efficient (like putting on a jumper before turning up the thermostat!). We live in the UK after all…! (actually even when driving in Utah and Arizona a couple of years ago we discovered we managed to use surprisingly little A/C, helped by parking in the shade or with our back end towards the sun as the tinted windows helped keep the car cool).
David
Surely driving round the block will waste more fuel won’t it?
Soen
Actually, because you’re not breaking and then accelerating or idling at an unnecessary stop, it actually uses any fuel. Any cyclist will tell you that the stop/start nature of traffic lights is that most wasteful action you can take on a bike – Part of the reason why many (not myself!) will go through a red light to save energy.
Soen
I think this article is a little jumbled up – The title really ought to refer to the American system as that’s what you’re talking about with regards to UPS.
My explanation is that at most intersections (particularly in LA) you’re allowed to turn right on red – i.e. the red light effectively becomes a give way and allows you to merge with flowing traffic. Not idling at traffic lights saves fuel, and that’s where the savings have come from.
Yes, from our point of view in the UK, our rule, if we had actually a sensible road system, would be to allow us to turn LEFT on red. Just thought I’d clarify any confusion!
TV John
I think the information on air con is a little dated. When it first started appearing on cars the systems were so powerful that it really did make a significant difference. On my last car (a Volvo 850) the air con failed towards the end of its life so for the last few years I had I drove around with no air con on and I could discern no difference in fuel consumption at all. Obviously it uses power, but compared with regularly accelerating a vehicle which weighs in excess of a tonne its clearly fairly insignificant.