UPS drivers avoid left turns, and you could benefit from the same trick

Driving comes with its own set of rules—some official, others unspoken. For UPS drivers, one key guideline is to avoid left turns. According to The Conversation, UPS drivers follow a calculated route instead of taking shortcuts or making left turns for a very intentional reason.

The primary reason for this practice is safety: on most U.S. roads, left turns require crossing oncoming traffic, making them riskier and more disruptive. By prioritizing right turns, UPS drivers help reduce delays and minimize accidents.

Most drivers tend to choose the shortest route, assuming it will be the quickest. However, this approach can increase traffic congestion. UPS drivers take it a step further by opting for optimized, not just shorter, routes.

A busy freeway.via Canva

By prioritizing open roads with fewer left turns and minimal traffic, they reduce delays and get to their destinations more efficiently.

Avoiding left turns also helps UPS drivers minimize fuel consumption and avoid traffic-related delays. Journalist Tom Vanderbilt explains, “Left-turning traffic typically has to turn against a flow of oncoming vehicles. This can not only be dangerous but makes traffic build-up unless you install a dedicated left-turn ‘phase,’ which is fine but adds 30 or 45 seconds to everyone else’s single time,” per CNN.

View from truck driver's seatvia Canva

Apart from saving time and lives, the no left-turn rule also helps save fuel and maintain the vehicle’s health.

A busy street clogged with trafficCanva

He added, “We will make left-hand turns, but not unnecessary ones. We don’t need to go in circles all day long by making only right-hand turns. We have tools to analyze the number of left-hand turns for each route, and we can work out which ones are avoidable.” UPS drivers have adopted a smarter route, and drivers of private and other vehicles are encouraged to follow suit. The benefits of saving fuel, losing traffic, and avoiding accidents, as well as dangers, are a win-win situation for all vehicle owners.

This article originally appeared last year.