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(NAPSI)-Here's an idea that will steer you in the right direction: While you can't control what you pay at the pump, you can make changes to your driving habits-such as avoiding left turns-to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
At UPS, efficiency is everything. Saving time, gas and money to get a package delivered when promised is a must-as is limiting the company's environmental impact. So what does it do to minimize fuel use?
It starts with careful planning. Delivery routes are designed in a loop with as few left turns as possible. Not only does this minimize fuel use and emissions, it is actually safer because it decreases the number of times a driver turns across oncoming traffic.
"Everyday drivers can adopt some of our best practices to ease their pain at the pump, reduce exposure to accidents and lessen their own environmental impact," said Robert Hall, UPS's fleet environmental manager.
With a travel makeover from UPS, a family of four recently shaved 84 miles a week off its driving. Using the routes mapped out by UPS, the family discovered it could save $3.69 a day, or almost $1,000 a year, on weekday travel alone.
Minimizing left turns and careful route planning have been fundamental to the way UPS does business. Years ago, its managers physically drove each route, plotting on maps how to maximize efficiency with right-hand turns. They found that even the smallest changes to daily driving habits can make a difference.
Today, UPS managers use a combination of personal and historical experience as well as specialized, sophisticated computer programs to plan every delivery route. Last year alone, their use of technology and experience saved 28.5 million miles and 3 million gallons of fuel.
"It's unrealistic to think you can run all of your errands without making any left turns, and even our delivery vehicles need to make left turns sometimes," said Hall. "But taking some time to plan your route can benefit your wallet and the environment."
For more information and tips from the driving experts, visit http://pressroom.ups.com/media kits/factsheet/0,1889,1314,00.html.A Good Turn-Fuel efficiency increases and emissions decrease when you can avoid left turns.